March 26, 2018

Vol. CXXXVIII, No. 23 March 26, 2018 thevarsity.ca —— University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

Will U-Pass or fail?

NEWS: Students divided over public transport proposal page 4

COMMENT: Two writers weigh the pros and cons page 7

U of T remembers Emma Leckey Woodsworth student was involved in advocacy, social justice movements on campus Josie Kao Associate News Editor

Following week of campaigning, UTSU elections voting begins

Uncontested One UTM slate sweeps UTMSU executive elections

New board to be elected by Wednesday

Hundreds of ‘no’ votes, abstentions

Aidan Currie & Josie Kao Varsity Staff

every position. Over 600 demerit points were awarded.

The voting period for University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) elections begins Monday and will continue until Wednesday, March 28 at 6:00 pm. Candidates have been campaigning since Monday, March 19, including 11 executive hopefuls who participated in the UTSU’s advocacy operations debate and The Varsity’s debate for the President and Vice-President Internal candidates.

This year’s UTSU elections have seen the lowest participation among candidates in recent memory.

Only seven races are contested, one more than the six previously reported by The Varsity following the reinstatement of Compass Professional Faculty Director atlarge candidate Christopher Dryden.

There have been no demerit points awarded to any candidate.

For comparison, last year’s UTSU election featured four slates, three of which ran executive candidates for

CRO and ERC rulings Dryden was previously disqualified for not attending the mandatory AllCandidates Meeting. He informed the elections’ Chief Returning Officer (CRO), Atoofa Arshad, via email that Anne Boucher, Compass’ presidential candidate, would be his representative at the meeting. He did not, however, sign the form provided in his nomination package to authorize Boucher as his representative. The CRO had no record of Dryden’s attendance at the meeting, and he was disqualified from the race.

Arshad’s decision was appealed to the Elections and Referenda Committee, and Dryden was reinstated as a candidate on the basis that, while not submitting the form was “negligent,” he did provide notice to the CRO 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Other CRO rulings arose from complaints of precampaigning UTSU, page 3

Ilya Bañares Associate News Editor

The unofficial results of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) elections were released on March 25 after a campaign period from March 12– 22. The One UTM slate, which ran unopposed, swept all five executive positions.

Felipe Nagata, current UTMSU Vice-President Campus Life, was elected President with 1,482 ‘yes’ votes against 110 ‘no’ votes and 192 abstentions.

Andres Posada won VP University Affairs with 1,390 voting in favour, 129 voting against, and 221 abstaining.

Yan Li was elected VP Internal with 1,539 ‘yes’ votes, 98 ‘no’ votes, and 165 abstentions.

Atif Abdullah, this year’s associate to the UTMSU Vice-President University Affairs, will be the new VP External after garnering 1,353 votes ‘yes’ votes, 131 ‘no’ votes, and 241 abstentions.

Leena Arbaji, the current Sus-

tainability Coordinator, won the post of VP Equity with 1,407 votes in favour, 117 votes against, and 218 votes abstaining.

One UTM ran on a platform of removing the $55 Student System Access fee, which the slate claims is unnecessary for students, as well as advocating for free postsecondary education and working on a U-Pass focusing on Brampton and Oakville.

The election had a low turnout rate of about 13 per cent of its membership. The highest number of voters was the election for VP University Affairs, in which 1,936 votes were cast, including spoiled ballots — in contrast, the UTMSU represents over 14,000 undergraduate students.

Voting was conducted in person using paper ballots. Although voting ended March 22 at 6:00 pm, unofficial results were not released to The Varsity until 9:00 pm on March 24.

The Chief Returning Officer (CRO), Sahab Jesuthasan, still

EDITORIAL

SCIENCE

SPORTS

Where‘s the competition?

Farewell, Professor Hawking

Low electoral competition has concerning democractic implications

A tribute to renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking

Indigenous Studies Students‘ Union collaborates with boys hockey team

page 9

page 14

Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen receives funding for uniforms page 18

Woodsworth College student Emma Leckey, the victim of a hitand-run on the UTSG campus on March 15, has passed away.

Leckey was a student in U of T’s Ethics, Society, and Law program.

Her passing was mourned in an email from Professor John Duncan, the director of the program.

“All of us in the major are unfathomably saddened by the passing of Emma, who was an excellent student and cherished member of our institutional family,” wrote Duncan. “Words fail me.”

“Emma will always be a valued member of our student community. She will be fondly remembered for her advocacy projects, dedication to furthering social justice around campus, and her work with the Canadian Cancer Society,” wrote the U of T Ethics, Society, and Law Students’ Association.

“Emma worked tirelessly and was always there for us if we ever needed a shoulder to lean on,” said Steven Worboys, her close friend. “Emma didn’t need to have her name attached to anything for it to matter to her. She truly believed in making the world a better place for many communities, in particular those that had their voices rarely heard. We have lost a beacon of light and many years of positive change that lay ahead.”

Through the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), Leckey was also involved with Relay for Life U of T, which is a fundraising event for the CCS. As a co-chair of the event for two years, she helped raise $40,000. According to Leckey’s co-chair and close friend, Julian Lamanna, “Emma was one of the Emma, page 3

UTMSU, page 3

FEATURE Due process for the digital Seeking redress for online sexual harassment page 10

2 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

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Tue

27

Left Politics in South Asia: Past, Present, Future

Hart House Farmer’s Market

Location: Davis Building, Room 3140

Location: Hart House, East Common Room

Time: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Time: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Price: Free with registration, transportation from UTSG provided

Price: Free

2018 AAH Grad Show: Halfway Exhibition Location: Blackwood Gallery Time: 12:00–5:00 pm Price: Free

Lead Copy Editors Isabel Armiento, Megan Brearley, Daniel Ninkovic, Ethan Raymond, Julie Shi

Kary Cozens Business Manager

Few students attended the UTSU’s second debate last week, hosted in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education auditorium. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

Wed

28

Indoor Farmers’ Market Location: SW Meeting Place Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm Price: Free

Thu

29

Sat

30

31

Crocs Warehouse Sale New Frontiers Seminar series with Dr. Massimo Pigliucci Location: AA160 Time: 12:00–1:00 pm Price: Free

Zine Making Workshop

Fri

Location: Markham Fairgrounds Time: 10:00 am–5:00 pm Price: Free

Until Apr 2

DockDogs® at the Canadian Pet Expo – Mississauga (Expo #1) Location: Canadian Pet Expo, 6900 Airport Road Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Price: Entry fees range from $12 to $30

Location: University College, Junior Common Room

Until Apr 1

Time: 5:00–7:00 pm Price: Free

Final Winter 2018 Learning Circle and Celebration Location: Ralph Campbell Lounge, BV380 Time: 5:00–8:30 pm Price: Free

Bodies of Knowledge: LGBT + Arts Festival Location: Isabel Bader Theatre Time: 6:00–10:30 pm Price: Free

Events at U of T St. George Mississauga Scarborough

MARCH 26, 2018 • 3

var.st/news UTSU, from cover against the Compass slate. A post on the r/UofT subreddit disclosed the names of Compass’ seven executive candidates and encouraged students to vote for them. The post was quickly removed by one of the subreddit’s moderators. The CRO ruled that she had reason to believe the post was created by a third party, and no demerit points were awarded.

Another complaint was made against Boucher, who responded to the aforementioned Reddit post using her own account, which is flaired on the subreddit as “UTSU VP External.” The complaint stated that Boucher had violated P.1 of the Elections and Procedures Code, “Benefits Acquired by Virtue of Office,” by making her campaign seem more legitimate due to the flair. The CRO ruled that the flair did not give Boucher a fair advantage and noted that it has since been changed to “Hopefully Host of Spaghetti Day.” The CRO also received a complaint against Emmanuela Alimlim, a non-arm’s length party to independent presidential candidate Michelle Mabira. The complaint alleged that Alimlim was seen taking posters, both campaign and non-campaignrelated, off of a board in Sidney Smith Hall and replacing them with posters promoting Mabira. Arshad ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to issue demerits.

The Varsity’s President and VP Internal Debate The Varsity held a debate for President and Vice-President Internal candidates on March 23.

The debate was moderated by The Varsity’s Deputy News Editor, Aidan Currie, and Associate News Editor Josie Kao. The participants included Boucher, Mabira, Compass VP Internal candidate Tyler Biswurm, and Boundless VP Internal candidate Alyy Patel.

The debate touched on topics ranging from plans for the Student Com-

Emma, from cover mons to board attendance records to the future of UTSU’s relationship with the University of Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU).

When asked about the future of the Student Commons, Biswurm said that he wanted to “caution everyone against thinking that just because we have a plan, that we have a stable future.” He added that it is vital to follow the plan laid out by this year’s UTSU executive and not propose ideas that are “completely fiscally irresponsible,” referencing the example of a bar in the Student Commons, an idea proposed by his opponent, Patel.

In response, Patel noted that U of T student bar Suds has never gone into a deficit, so her plan is feasible.

She further challenged Biswurm on his experience. “I think it’s most important to bring someone into office that has experience with budgeting…

I noticed in your candidate statement that you oversaw your high school’s budget, and that’s really cute,” she said.

“It’s not about being a candidate on paper,” responded Biswurm. “It’s about being a candidate in person…

We’ve seen a past history of executives who are extremely irresponsible despite the number of qualifications they are ‘supposed to have.’”

The presidential debate began with a question on the candidates’ stance on the UTSU’s membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), and whether they would support leaving it. Leaving the CFS is a move that the current UTSU executive has endorsed.

Boucher answered by saying that the CFS is “corrupt” and that it “weaponizes equity.” She maintained her platform point of supporting a move to leave the CFS. In contrast, Mabira maintained that she would “stay impartial” on the CFS while also supporting a campaign to hold a referendum. When asked about defederation, Mabira

said that she would wait to speak to those who are elected about their opinions on the subject.

During the debate, Mabira also brought up concerns that she had about the legitimacy of the UTSU’s financial statements, which she tied to an alleged conflict of interest that occurred in in 2017 between consulting company Kokobi, the UTSU, and previous UTSU staff member Robert Boissonneault.

Boucher called Mabira’s claims a “conspiracy theory,” saying that she had full confidence in the numbers provided by the UTSU. Mabira rebutted that it was not a conspiracy theory but merely her “connecting the dots.”

“I’m not saying I don’t trust these documents,” said Mabira, “but the thing is these people have interests in it, and sometimes, your interests push you a certain way.”

She proposed hiring a third party to look at these documents, saying, “We might end up getting a third party, and the third party shows up and says the finances are good, but at the end of the day that still needs to happen.”

The debate ended with each presidential candidate being asked to say something they admired about the other.

Mabira said that she admired the slate Boucher put together. “The people that you have, especially the VPs, are very experienced and very dedicated to the work.”

Boucher said that Mabira is a “strong candidate” and “passionate” about her work. She also complimented Mabira on being willing to “stand in front of the UTSU and protest” for the Save Our Services campaign. “You need to be brave to do that,” she said.

Full-time undergraduate students at UTSG and UTM are eligible to vote in UTSU elections. Voting is exclusively online at utsu.simplyvoting. com.

most loving, caring, giving, and kind people I have ever met. I will forever be grateful for her being a part of my life.”

Lamanna said that Leckey was a “talented, motivated, and incredible soul, gone too soon.”

Leckey was struck by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of Huron Street and College Street. According to police, the driver, who has since been charged, may have been intoxicated.

According to Woodsworth College Principal Joe Desloges, Leckey was taken to the hospital after being helped by an onlooker. There, doctors made extraordinary efforts to keep her alive despite severe injuries.

“Her parents now find themselves in a position to act on behalf of their daughter and have made the decision to allow Emma to pass,” reads Desloges’ statement, posted on Facebook on March 20 by the Woodsworth College Students’ Association (WCSA).

Both Lamanna and Worboys wanted to highlight the dangers of drunk driving, saying that her family wants to prevent something like this from ever happening again. “No matter what rationale you can come up with to validate this, someone’s life is not worth it.”

The WCSA Board of Directors wrote in a statement that it “would like to take this moment to honour our great friend and colleague Emma for her devotion to the Woodsworth community. Emma will forever be part of the wolf pack, and always re-

Leckey was a beloved member of the university community.

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVEN WORBOYS

main in our hearts. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time.”

According to Desloges, there will likely be a memorial service held at U of T to honour her memory, though the date has not yet been determined.

U of T’s Health & Wellness Centre has been made aware of the impact Leckey’s passing may have on students. Students may indicate to the front desk at Health & Wellness that they are from the “Woodsworth community” if they wish to seek additional support.

“Emma was the kind of person who inspired you to be a better person. To push as hard as possible to achieve your goals,” said Lamanna. “And to always smile, even during the toughest of times.”

UTMSU, from cover needs to verify 47 “double envelopes,” which may slightly change the current election numbers.

According to Jesuthasan, “double envelope votes were cast when a student failed to provide acceptable ID.” One envelope has the voter’s name and student number. The second contains the vote. The latter are pooled so the CRO “will not know

what vote the student cast.”

Pending this verification along with appeals and submission of finances by the candidates, the results will remain unofficial until ratification at the next UTMSU Board of Directors meeting on March 30.

The Varsity has reached out to Nagata for comment.

Undergraduate enrolment at UTM, UTSC set to increase by 2023, decrease at UTSG Over 20 per cent of student body are international, enrolment report reveals Daniel Kim Varsity Staff

The university is on track for its long-term enrolment targets, with undergraduate enrolment to remain constant at UTM and UTSC and decrease at UTSG for the next year, according to its annual report. It also revealed the extent of the university’s international student population, with a high number of international students from China.

The 2017–2018 goal for the undergraduate enrolment was 61,736 students; the university went over by one student. The university also went slightly over its graduate target of 17,362 full-time students, with 17,525 enroled.

Student enrolment represents the largest portion of the university’s operating revenue. According to the enrolment report, 87 per cent of the $2.7 billion budgeted in revenue is directly tied to students through both

provincial grants per student and student fees.

U of T’s Vice-President and Provost, Cheryl Regehr, said that the university “is in a very strong financial position.”

As of February 12, Moody’s, one of the largest credit rating agencies in the world, gave U of T a rating of Aa2, which is the third-highest credit rating an institution can receive, out of 21 ratings.

Future enrolment estimates By 2022–2023, undergraduate enrolment at UTM is expected to increase by 5.5 per cent or 600 Full Time Equivalents (FTE). FTE is a measure of course load activity of students, and refers to the equivalent of a student taking a full, five-course load.

The same increase of 5.5 per cent by 2022–2023 is also expected at UTSC. Meanwhile, UTSG is expected to reduce enrolment by 4.5 per cent (1,730 FTE) during this period.

For the next two years, however, domestic undergraduate enrolment at UTM and UTSC will be held constant, while UTSG will reduce enrolment by 1,800 FTE. These goals were agreed upon by the University of Toronto and the province as a “response to Ontario’s changing demographics,” according to the enrolment report.

Regehr said that “the decrease of 1,800 students here at St. George… sounds like a lot of people, but it’s really relatively small for the size of our university.”

She also said that the university “does not see this [projected change to enrolment] changing the criteria for admissions in any significant way.”

International student enrolment The enrolment report outlines that 21.3 per cent of the university’s student body is made up of international students. Specifically, international students make up 22.5 per cent of the undergraduate population and 16.8

per cent of the graduate population.

“China is a very key international market in terms of both the population of China and also the value of student mobility,” said Regehr. “That’s not just the case for the University of Toronto but for universities across North America.”

“We have a great record of success among students [from] China and, as a result, we have a strong alumni base in China that continues to promote the excellence that is at the University of Toronto... This is reflected in the high numbers of applications from Chinese students.”

Regehr also said that the university was “working in other countries to also encourage students from other countries to come to Canada.”

Securing funding for increasing graduate enrolment The enrolment report also outlines the university’s ambition to secure more funding for graduate-level

studies.

“As the premier research university in the country, [U of T is] really focusing on expanding both in the graduate research areas and in the professional master’s programs,” said Regehr. “This strengthens our research mission and our education mission.”

U of T has a smaller percentage of graduate students than many similar institutions in other parts of the world, especially the United States, according to Regehr.

She said that provincial funding has mainly focused on access for undergraduate students, “which is fantastic.” However, the university wants to readjust the balance of funding between the two groups.

Regehr also noted that the demand for professional master’s programs has expanded in the last few years and, as a result, the university will need additional funding to respond to that demand.

4 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Students divided on U-Pass ahead of fee increase referendum Contract negotiations, no opt-out among issues cited by opposers Kate Reeve Associate Sports Editor

Full-time undergraduate students at UTSG will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed U-Pass transit plan from March 26–28. If a majority of them vote “yes” for the plan, an unlimited semesterly TTC pass will be implemented. The TTC set the price of the U-Pass at $280 per semester, with most students having no option to opt out of payment.

Exceptions to the no opt-out rule will include students “whose personal circumstances or needs related to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code restrict their ability to utilize transit.”

Ahead of this week’s vote, both supporters and detractors of the U-Pass are attempting to persuade students to their side of the issue. The detractors, U of T students Aron Sankar and Donald Wang, have created a Facebook event page called “Vote NO to the UPass Referendum on March 26–28” to share their message. As of press time, almost 700 people said they were attending the event on Facebook. Sankar is also a Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering director on the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) Board of Directors; Wang is the Faculty of Medicine director.

Aidan Swirsky, a representative of the pro-U-Pass U-Commute team,

explained that the group has been “handing out flyers, doing class talks, spreading the word via wordof-mouth, conversing with student groups over email and giving them all the information (especially commuter and residence-related ones), and posting on social media – including a UofT Reddit AMA.” UCommute is also hosting a Facebook event, “Vote YES for the St. George U-Pass! (March 26-28),” with over 280 people saying they were attending as of press time.

Sankar and Wang argued that the pass will have an overall negative impact on students. They believe that “at its core the U-Pass levy essentially amounts to a cash transfer to students who use the TTC regularly from those who do not.”

They emphasized that the contract negotiations with the TTC regarding administrative fees and term length, among other things, are not concrete, and that “everyone should have the right to know those things before they vote.”

Sankar and Wang explained that they cannot justify supporting a U-Pass without an opt-out option, which the “TTC would never go for... unless the fee were higher.” Otherwise, they believe, non-commuter students would be forced to pay over $500 per year for a pass they’d rarely use.

They also said that GO Transit us-

ers, whom they estimate would make up about 10 per cent of U-Pass users, would see their expenses rise, as the U-Pass does not cover GO Transit.

There is currently a co-fare discount in effect for those who travel between the GO and TTC systems. Sankar and Wang worry that many students are not aware of the actual cost of the UPass. Despite their best efforts, they believe “there are so many people who will not find out that this is even happening until they see their ACORN account come August.”

Conversely, Swirsky argued that a U-Pass is the best option for U of T students, who can use the pass to improve their quality of living in Toronto through opportunities “such as finding lower priced food and household goods” and replacing “more expensive forms of transport (like taxis and Ubers).” The U-Pass is also eligible to be covered under OSAP, and it offers students a 40 per cent discount on a regular postsecondary metropass. The pass must be mandatory, he said, to have the cheapest price; he added that this framework is used successfully at many universities across Canada.

Swirsky continued that “the UPass will establish a two-way partnership with the TTC that student advocacy organizations such as the UTSU should be able to leverage,” including on issues such as with GO. He also noted that the program

The TTC recently set the price of the U-Pass at $280 per semester.

SOFIA LUDWIG/THE VARSITY

is revenue neutral, meaning “that the amount of money they generate from student ridership now, would be the same after pass implementation.” He stressed that “all of the information students need to know about the pass has been made public before the vote,” and that any additional negotiations would cover administrative details, such as fee remittance dates.

Swirsky said that the U-Commute team’s “extensive consultation of UofT students through meetings with stakeholder organizations, frequent progress updates to its

constituents and of course the UCommute survey” points to a wide base of support. Sankar and Wang disagree, worrying that students who are against the measure will not vote “because many of the demographics that are hit the hardest, such as international students, are also typically less likely to be involved with or aware of happenings at the UTSU.” Both sides will continue to lobby students until the referendum, which will take place online alongside the UTSU elections from March 26–28. Voting will take place at utsu.simplyvoting.com.

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Saturday, April 7, 2018 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. senecacollege.ca/ openhouse

MARCH 26, 2018 • 5

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Business Board approves widespread tuition fee increases for all students Domestic ArtSci, Architecture, Music, KPE tuition to increase three per cent, Engineering five per cent Ann Marie Elpa Varsity Staff

Tuition fees are expected to increase again this year after the Business Board of the university’s Governing Council approved the increases at a meeting on March 21.

The tuition increases were first outlined in the university’s proposed budget for the 2018–2019 academic year, which outlines a for-credit tuition fee revenue of $148 million to fund initiatives and capital projects across the three campuses.

What are the tuition increases?

Domestic undergraduate tuition fees for the Faculty of Arts & Science; the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design; the Faculty of Music; and the Faculty of

Kinesiology & Physical Education are expected to increase by three per cent in the 2018–2019 academic year.

Tuition fees for the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering is expected to increase by five per cent, with tuition to be $15,760.

Tuition for international students in the Faculty of Arts & Science is expected to rise by no more than nine per cent in the 2019–2020 academic year, while international students in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering will see an increase of eight per cent to their tuition over the same period. According to the budget, “international fees are set at a level to more closely reflect the true cost of educating students.”

Tuition fees for most professional programs will increase by 2.5 per cent to five per cent under the provincial

tuition framework.

Tuition fees for international graduate students will be the same as their domestic counterparts in Fall 2018, as per a university decision in mid-January.

As a result of tuition increases, an increase in student financial aid is also expected.

The proposed budget for 2018– 2019 puts $224 million towards student aid for the year. In a 2016–2017 report on student financial support, the university committed itself to providing increased aid not only for undergraduate domestic students but also international students.

Why does tuition keep rising?

The overall increase in tuition is meant to address higher enrolment and increased costs, according to Vice-

In conversation with Greg Essensa, Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer Essensa talks student engagement, first-past-the-post, safeguarding the ballot ahead of June elections Ilya Bañares Associate News Editor

Ontarians will head to the polls on June 7 to elect their representatives at Queen’s Park. In the three months until then, Elections Ontario will be hard at work organizing the ballots.

Greg Essensa has been Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer since 2008, and he is the former Toronto Director of Elections and Registry Services. The Varsity spoke with Essensa about how the province was engaging younger generations to vote, and the issues that can prevent them from doing so.

The Varsity: A problem the province has had in the past is engaging students and young people to vote in elections. Do you have any concrete plans to address this issue?

Greg Essensa: This past September, we launched our e-registration application, and we were on all 50 college and university campuses across the province. The idea was to engage students, to let them know their rights, and to ensure that they are registered at the appropriate location.

We’re also educating students, because most students aren’t aware that under the Elections Act here in Ontario, they have the ability to pick their residence. If they’re, let’s say, a student that lives in Toronto but is going to Western, they have the opportunity to pick their riding in Western as their home riding for the election.

TV: This year, the provincial elections are during the summer, specifically in June, rather than in the fall, when most students have classes. Do you think this will encourage students to go vote if they aren’t in class at the time?

GE: I think it encourages students to go vote. One of the challenges we often have with fall elections are the students are engaged in their academic studies. If they have a term paper, if they have some examination that’s coming up, they get very

Greg Essensa has been Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer since 2008.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELECTIONS ONTARIO

engaged in their studies — which they should — sometimes voting becomes a secondary thought to them.

But in June, for most students, schools are out, students are very engaged. It also allows them to participate in the democratic process. They can work for us, they can get engaged with political parties, and it allows them to become proactive civil society students and getting involved in that democratic process, in the means and the ways that they wish to.

TV: Ontario has for years debated moving from the current system of first-past-the-post to a mixed-member-proportional system. Even the University of Toronto Students’ Union has shifted to using ranked ballots.

Does Elections Ontario swing one way, or support any kind

of referendum movement to decide a shift or not?

GE: Our role at Elections Ontario is to be neutral and impartial, which means we don’t really engage in a public policy debate. Should the legislature examine a different means of voting, like they did in 2007, Elections Ontario’s role becomes primarily about educating the electorate on what those changes are.

Our role is to provide them what we would need, how it would be administered, are there costs implications, et cetera. Our role in public policy debates is to remain neutral, and to ensure that we are providing factual evidence and information to the various stakeholders who require it.

TV: In recent elections, both in Canada and across the world, accusations have been made regarding the validity of the elections process. What processes does Elections Ontario have to safeguard the elections?

GE: Fundamentally, our elections process in Canada has been very well regarded because of the fact that it’s very simple. When you come to a poll, we have a deputy returning officer, a poll clerk to ensure that there’s no one ‘stuffing the ballot box.’ We balance the process.

The beauty of the electoral process here in Ontario and in Canada is the fact that the confidence that electors have that once they drop their ballot in that box, they know that the ballot will be voted in a fair, transparent fashion, and that the result that I reported will reflect the will of the people. I think our job is to ensure that that integrity and that confidence in the electoral process is maintained.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

President and Provost Cheryl Regehr.

The costs also come in response to the tuition framework mandated by the Ontario government.

“The three per cent overall increase is the tuition framework from the provincial government and the issue is costs... continue to rise as they do everywhere,” said Regehr, noting that the government grant per student “has not increased for many years now.”

Mathias Memmel, the President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union, said that the union was “disappointed, although not surprised, that the university is increasing fees by as much as it possibly can.”

Memmel, like Regehr, pointed to issues in government funding.

“The provincial government needs to step up and make a serious commitment to public education,” said

Memmel. “Otherwise, our public universities will cease to be truly public and will become private institutions with public funding.”

Despite the fee increases, the university reaffirmed its commitment to aiding students in positions of financial need.

“We have always had the longstanding commitment that any qualified student who is admitted to the University of Toronto will be able to not have financial barriers that stop them from completing their education,” said Regehr.

The commitments are outlined in the university’s Policy on Student Financial Support.

Jack.org summit underscores role of university in promoting mental well-being of students Organization’s first annual regional summit hosted U of T’s Psychiatrist-in-Chief Silas Le Blanc Varsity Staff

Jack.org, an organization of young leaders dedicated to changing approaches toward mental health, held its first annual regional summit at U of T’s Earth Sciences Centre on March 24. Alongside a keynote address from U of T Health & Wellness’ Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Dr. Andrea Levinson, attendees were invited to both expert and studentled panels, as well as workshops and collaborative sessions.

Levinson founded an early intervention clinic for young people with bipolar disorder at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where she is currently a staff psychiatrist. She focused her keynote address on the mental wellbeing of young people ages 18–24.

“Early warning signs of mental illness, if they are left undiagnosed, untreated — they leave young people extremely vulnerable,” she said.

Levinson stressed the importance of services in places where people in that age range spend their time: postsecondary educational institutions, which engage 83 per cent of Ontario’s young adults. “Our campuses are the workplace and playground of our young adults,” she said. “This is where the action happens.”

Speaking to The Varsity after her address, Levinson said that she “loved being part of this event” but was very aware of the age disparity between herself and the audience.

“I even questioned why a keynote should be given by someone who wasn’t a member of the youth community themselves,” she said.

However, after speaking to the organizers to understand the themes and tone of the summit, Levinson felt that she was able to deliver a speech that “could align itself with that tone, and with the spirit of the day.”

Levinson said that the best way to raise mental health awareness as a student is in “small everyday interactions in one’s more intimate relationships, in one’s residence,” as well as in classrooms and tutorial groups.

The speakers on the expert panel were Eric Windeler, who founded Jack.org in 2010 after the death of his son; Mike Stroh, founder of Starts With Me, a group that hosts presentations on mental health to “support gaps in education and services;” and Nicole German, founder of The Maddie Project, which seeks to prevent youth and families from dealing with mental health issues without help.

Stroh said that one problem facing advocates is the distinction between mental health and mental illness.

“A lot of the awareness that’s been happening is fantastic, but I think that distinction is getting blurred,” he said. “Not everyone has a diagnosis or experiences mental illness, and I think those things are quite different.”

German discussed changing the way the issue is viewed, saying “we want mental health to be like nutrition… all the labels about what’s in your food and thinking about what you eat — it’s the same way with mental health. Every day we should be thinking about that.”

Disclosure: The organizer of the summit, Sean Smith, sits on The Varsity’s board of directors.

6 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Black Public Health Students’ Collective pens open letter condemning instance of anti-Black racism Group lists demands for Dalla Lana School of Public Health following faculty member’s tweets Jacob Lorinc Editor-in-Chief

An open letter being circulated by the Black Public Health Students’ Collective (BPHSC) is calling for U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) to take action following what the group has called an instance of anti-Black racism from Marcos Sanches, an adjunct lecturer at the DLSPH. On Twitter earlier in March, Professor Rinaldo Walcott, director of U of T’s Women & Gender Studies Institute, posted a photo of a wine glass with the caption, “A toast to the people who do not want to be called white. Cause they are white. Cheers.”

Sanches replied, “Do you like to be called an ape? Because you are an ape. We all are. I dont [sic] use this fact to call people an ape. You have

the right to be offensive, but by being offensive you make it more difficult to reach understanding.”

Sanches has since deleted his Twitter account.

On March 22, the DLSPH released a brief statement on the incident.

“There is a clear and well documented history on the usage of ape as a slur against people of African descent,” reads the BPHSC open letter. “We are writing to express our disapproval of these remarks, which are unacceptable from any member of this university, but especially from a DLSPH faculty member.

His anti-Black racism should not go unaddressed.”

The letter, made out to the school’s interim dean, Adalsteinn Brown, requests that the school hold Sanches accountable for his actions.

“He must seek out continuous

education and training on antioppression and anti-racism; he must make a meaningful apology that centres issues of race, power, and privilege; and he must reflect on his actions, and change his behaviour in the future. This process must include and be accountable to Black students at DLSPH, and we request a formal report on Mr. Sanches’ progress on the above demands in six months time,” reads the letter.

In an email correspondence with The Varsity, Sanches said that he would be “happy to attend” specific trainings so that he can “learn more.”

“What I did was stupid,” said Sanches. “I have taken responsibility for the harm caused by my comments and proactively looked for ways in which I can better myself in order to play a positive role in our society.”

The letter also outlines eight

Open letter petitions U of T to rescind Faith Goldy’s student leadership award Letter slams ex-Rebel Media host’s support for white supremacist goals

Goldy was awarded the Cressy Award in 2012 while she was a student at Trinity College. PHOTO VIA UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Tom Yun Managing Online Editor

An open letter signed by 82 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award recipients spanning the past 21 years is calling on the University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) to rescind the award that far-right activist and former Rebel Media host Faith Goldy received as a student.

Recipients of the Cressy Awards have been selected every year by the UTAA and the Division of University Advancement since 1994.

The award recognizes students in their graduating year for involvement in extracurricular activities and is named after former city councillor and former U of T Vice-President of Development and University Relations Gordon Cressy.

Goldy, who at the time went by Faith Goldy-Bazos and was a stu-

dent enrolled at Trinity College, was awarded the Cressy Award in 2012 for her involvement with the Association of Political Science Students.

Arts and Science Students’ Union (ASSU) Student Advisor Gavin Nowlan and former ASSU President Abdullah Shihipar are organizing the petition. Nowlan told The Varsity that he sent the letter through campus mail on the morning of March 19.

“It seemed incongruous that one of the awards that highlights student leadership and work in the community has been awarded to someone who has views that, in our mind, are so far from the views of the University of Toronto,” said Nowlan.

Part of the letter states that Goldy has “openly expressed support and advocated for the goals of the white nationalist movement.”

During her time at Rebel Media,

Goldy has expressed support for the white genocide conspiracy theory, which has roots in the white supremacist movement, as well as a “crusade” against Muslims.

In an interview, she also recited and defended the ‘14 Words,’ a slogan commonly used in the white supremacist movement.

The letter also notes that Goldy “has appeared as a supportive guest on white supremacist media.”

In August 2017, Goldy appeared on a podcast affiliated with the Daily Stormer, an online neo-Nazi media outlet. She was subsequently fired from Rebel Media for that interview.

The award’s namesake has also expressed support for the petition.

Cressy told Canadaland that the signatories, “in many ways represent what the Cressy award is all about.”

U of T Interim Director of Media Relations Elizabeth Church said that the university had not yet received the petition, but would give it “thoughtful consideration” once received. She also told The Varsity that there was no precedent for a Cressy Award recipient, or a recipient of any similar awards, being stripped of their honour.

Goldy did not respond to The Varsity’s inquiries, but tweeted, “Typical Marxist tricks! Rewrite history to fit your ideology” in response to the petition.

The day after the letter was sent, Goldy was at Wilfrid Laurier University speaking at an event held by a student group, which was disrupted after protesters pulled a fire alarm.

The letter has accumulated hundreds of signatures so far.

JAMES SCOTT/CC WIKIMEDIA

demands of the DLSPH in order for it to “be accountable to its students.”

Among the demands, the BPHSC requests that the school develop “an open process” to respond to and address anti-Black racism, hire new full-time staff to “fulfill any recommendations” set forth by the school’s Diversity and Equity Committee, and introduce new courses “focusing explicitly on the relationship between racism and health.”

Michael Escobar, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs at the DLSPH, did not specify whether the school intends to follow any of the demands made in the open letter, but he told The Varsity that it would “seriously consider the suggestions.”

Escobar said that he was “horrified” when he saw the tweet, but declined to say whether he believed Sanches’

comments constituted anti-Black racism.

“This whole situation is horrible,” said Escobar. “We need to have a dialogue with the students. We’re a community. We need to figure out a way to heal.”

“The incident involving Marcos Sanches is not an isolated event,” said Nishan Zewge-Abubaker, a DLSPH student and co-head of the BPHSC. “It is a continuation of antiBlack racist sentiments that occur regularly at the [DLSPH], and the University of Toronto at large.”

The letter has accumulated hundreds of signatures from students, faculty, campus groups, and others outside the U of T community.

Neither Walcott nor Brown responded to The Varsity’s requests for comment.

Jordan Peterson addressing professional misconduct allegation with psychologists’ governing body Undertaking requested to address “issues of communications with clients” Jack O. Denton News Editor

U of T professor and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson is engaging with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the province’s governing body for psychologists, to address an allegation of professional misconduct.

Complaints about members of the college are investigated and put before the Inquiries, Complaints, and Reports Committee, which decides what action should be taken according to the risk level posed by the member. The level ranges from no risk to high risk.

The committee’s decision for Peterson’s case, released February 7 this year, was that he enter into an “Acknowledgement and Undertaking.” Undertakings are requested when moderate risk is identified. According to the committee’s risk assessment framework, undertakings “can range from a minor change in practice to having a mentor.”

The undertaking that Peterson is engaged in will be in effect for at least 90 days, and it will “address issues of communications with clients, which may constitute boundary and/or quality of service issues,” according to the college’s record.

Peterson’s undertaking includes

Peterson has recently risen to global popularity as an academic and cultural critic. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

two steps: the “formulation of a plan to prioritize clinical work with clients above other competing interests, including appropriate client communications,” and a selfreport on the development and implementation of that plan.

Peterson has recently risen to global popularity as an academic and cultural critic. He told The Varsity that he put his clinical practice on hold more than a year ago, “long before this undertaking was formulated, as the constant demands on my time made it impossible for me to continue properly.”

The college’s registrar and executive director, Dr. Rick Morris, declined to provide any information specific to Peterson’s case.

Comment

March 26, 2018 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

Is $280 per semester a good deal?

Two contributors debate the merits of the U-Pass in light of the upcoming referendum Yasaman Mohaddes & Anvesh Jain Varsity Staff

From March 26–28, a referendum will prompt full-time UTSG undergraduate students to vote on the U-Pass, an unlimited transit pass for the TTC. Should the referendum succeed, all students will be required to pay $280 per semester for the pass, with no option to opt out of the fee unless a student is proven to be unable to utilize transit under conditions set by the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The U-Pass has proven to be a contentious issue, with campaigns having been launched both in favour and against. Below, two contributors weigh the merits and shortcomings of the proposal made by the University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU).

MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY

A U-Pass will meet the overwhelming demand for affordable transportation Students should vote in favour of the U-Pass.

It can help improve the day-to-day lives of thousands of students, even the ones who currently don’t use the TTC, by expanding their ability to move around this highly transitdependent city.

Having access to affordable transportation would allow all students to better plan and organize their academic schedules, participate in university life, and explore Toronto with more ease and comfort. While the proposed mandatory fee of $280 per session may seem unfair to students that don't use public transportation enough to justify the cost, it would work to lift a massive financial burden off the shoulders of thousands of students who rely on the TTC to travel to and from campus and to engage in other commitments.

The current cost of a postsecondary TTC monthly pass is $116.75 — which, for the majority of students living on a tight budget, is too much to spend on transportation alone. In a city like Toronto, which depends heavily on public transportation, being confined to areas within walking distance can leave students at a disadvantage when scheduling classes, extracurriculars, and daily activities. Some students have no option but to use transit to get to class, and the current cost burden on these students is simply too high.

U-Commute, an organization comprised of student union representatives from U of T, George Brown College, OCAD University, and Ryerson University, is currently advocating for more affordable public transportation options for post-secondary students. The U-Commute survey gathered over 16,000 responses from August 28 to September 28 in 2017, just under 10,000 of whom were UTSG students.

The survey demonstrated to the TTC that reducing transit prices for students would result in increased ridership — which would alleviate any concerns the TTC might have about potential

profit loss associated with a substantially discounted pass. This has been the trend across other major universities that have subsidized public transportation.

Of the respondents who did not use public transit, 43.7 per cent cited it being too expensive.

Moreover, around 95 per cent of students found public transit to be too expensive overall. About 95 per cent agreed that a U-Pass would be useful for them, with 96 per cent of all respondents saying they would vote for the implementation of a U-Pass in a referendum. Three-quarters of respondents used public transit as part of their commute, with 98.3 per cent of these respondents using the TTC in some fashion, making an affordable option for frequent transit users vital.

U of T is behind on the trend of providing more affordable transportation for students — on top of having one of the highest tuition rates and being located in one of the most expensive cities in the country. Several other major cities and universities, including the University of British Columbia, McMaster University, Montréal, and Ottawa, have subsidized public transportation in order to make it more affordable for students.

UTM also currently has a similar U-Pass system in place. It’s about time that UTSG catches up to the other campuses.

There has been criticism over the fact that, complying with the TTC’s wishes, students will not be able to opt out of the proposed U-Pass fee. However, this ‘no opt-out’ clause seems to be necessary for any U-Pass deal to be made at all. This crowdfunded approach to the U-Pass may be the only way forward, and it is not a new approach to providing student services on campus. Students currently pay for services such as university gyms, college student unions, and the new Student Commons — even if students never take advantage of the services these funds make possible, they will have helped other students who find these services essential to their university lives.

The $70 per month fee may seem high for students who don’t use transit on a daily basis, but the U-Pass can alleviate much financial stress for the large proportion of students who continue to rely on the TTC, meaning this proposal is one worth investing in.

Yasaman Mohaddes is a third-year student at St. Michael’s College studying Political Science and Sociology.

MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY

The deal as it stands should sway students to give the U-Pass a hard pass I urge my fellow students to vote against the U-Pass motion in the upcoming referendum.

Not only is the described implementation of the U-Pass unfair in principle, it would be subpar in practice as well. As negotiated with TTC transit authorities and as will be put before us in the upcoming referendum, the U-Pass is not the best deal for UTSG students. Frankly, we deserve much better.

At a fee of $280 per semester, students would have the U-Pass for $70 per month. Considering the $3.25 adult fare that would otherwise be paid per TTC ride — $3 if you use PRESTO — the U-Pass initiative does benefit frequent commuters, especially those who currently use the $116.75 monthly metropass for their transit needs. Students who make round trips three times per week would roughly break even with the proposed U-Pass, and only those who commute more than that start saving in comparison to the status quo. Yet this doesn’t account for those of us on the other end of the spectrum.

Proponents of the U-Pass will invariably point to U of T’s reputation as a ‘commuter school.’ This reputation is seemingly backed up by the recently published U-Commute survey, in which about 74 per cent of respondents said that they used transit in some way during their commute. Yet there are serious flaws in this survey that render its results less conclusive, making it difficult to justify the implementation of the U-Pass on this basis.

Though a respectable sample size of about 10,000 students responded to the U-Commute survey, it was conducted online and circulated mainly by UTSU social media circles. Self-selection bias will skew the data toward commuters, who would be the likeliest to engage with an online survey collecting data on student commutes.

It’s also unclear whether the data from the U-Commute survey should supersede the findings in StudentMoveTO’s 2015 survey.

StudentMoveTO had a similar number of responses but wasn’t conducted online, meaning that the results would have suffered less from the aforementioned selection bias. According to StudentMoveTO, only 43 per cent of UTSG students used transit the TTC to get to class. If we accept the results of both StudentMoveTO and U-Commute as accurate, then the proportion of students who commute to school would have increased by an astronomical 31 per cent in just two years. This discrepancy might be better explained by issues with U-Commute’s methodology.

The integrity of the survey might also be called into question — the UTSU itself admits

on the first page of the U-Commute report that the questions and outcomes of the survey are a reflection of its negotiation strategy with the TTC. Students should not be basing their decision to endorse the U-Pass on a survey that appears to have been designed to make the proposal palatable to transit authorities.

Even if we accept the U-Commute findings, then at least a quarter of the student population doesn’t use public transit enough to justify the costs of the U-Pass. Forcing these students to pay $280 per semester so as to subsidize transport for the rest sets a bad precedent, especially considering the lack of opt-out.

Since a U of T education is already among the most expensive in Canada, any increases in fees must be closely scrutinized. A $280 sessionally mandated increase in tuition fees is a hefty sum that could otherwise go toward textbooks or school supplies. It may be particularly onerous for out-of-province or international students who do not have access to the Ontario Student Assistance Program to help offset the costs of education.

I want to be clear that I support the idea of a student transit pass — affordable transit is important, and these types of initiatives have worked well in cities like Vancouver and Calgary.

But the deal being presented to us is a poor one, especially given that there is no option to opt out of it. It is difficult to believe that there aren’t enough students across UTSG, OCAD, Ryerson, and George Brown who would be willing to pay for the U-Pass, allowing the system to become ‘opt-in’ and removing much of our collective headache. It is also unreasonable that the result of one referendum would lock us in to a four-year commitment.

The UTSU has left us with more questions than answers when it comes to the current incarnation of the U-Pass — and it is our duty to push for a better, fairer, and more inclusive deal. The current U-Pass proposal might only be possible if we are all forced to opt in, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily worth doing so.

The TTC seems to be less interested in taking a critical look at its own revenue models and more interested in offloading costs onto the population least able to bear them. If this referendum fails and the TTC refuses to renegotiate, then we must take our discontent to the ballot box in the Toronto municipal elections later this year.

Let’s reject this motion as it stands and ask our student representatives to bring the TTC back to the bargaining table.

Anvesh Jain is a first-year student at St. Michael’s College studying International Relations.

8 • THE VARSITY • COMMENT

comment@thevarsity.ca

Unpacking the university’s underrated services

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From income tax filing to virtual reality fun, students share some of U of T’s hidden gems

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Centralized resources and accessible support at the Sexual Violence Centre One of the most underrated services provided on campus, perhaps due to how new it is, is the Tri-Campus Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre.

Established in 2017 as part of the Action Plan on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence, the centre spans all three campuses and has a mandate to respond to sexual violence on campus.

The centre helps members of the university community confidently navigate the resources offered at U of T. Resources are available to students, faculty, and staff; no formal reporting process is required for access; and the centre can be reached via email or telephone. Services offered include support in securing accommodations, referrals to other resources, and help with the reporting process if requested.

All in all, the Sexual Violence Prevention Centre provides students who have experienced sexual violence with a one-stop shop to turn to for support and information, making resources simpler and less daunting to access. The centre assists students across U of T in getting the help they need to heal from and cope with their trauma, and more students should know about the resources that it has to offer.

Anastasia Pitcher is a first-year student at New College studying Life Sciences.

Financial paperwork made simple through the UTSU’s tax clinic The tax clinic on campus, run by the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), provides free support for students earning less than $40,000 in annual income to file their income taxes from up to the past three years to the current year. A student simply needs to book an appointment online and bring their tax documents to the UTSU office, where volunteers help the student file their taxes.

As a volunteer myself, I can attest to the value this program provides for students. Many people do not like filing

their taxes because it can be a complicated and time-consuming process. Using this program also saves students from having to spend any money on tax-filing software; for instance, the software used by the UTSU, UFile, costs $20. Having students with some experience filing returns also consumes less time and provides the students with tax-saving advice. Students are already stressed with exams and assignments during tax season, and this program can certainly reduce stress.

Peter Dominicis is a third-year student at St. Michael’s College studying Accounting.

Race toward RACER for access to countless library materials If there is ever a book that you feel a burning need to read but can’t find anywhere — not at U of T libraries, public libraries, bookstores, or even the internet — then Rapid Access to Collections by Electronic Requesting (RACER) is at your service.

Easily accessible under the ‘Services’ tab of the U of T Library’s website, RACER is an electronic inter-library loan service that lets students and staff at Canadian universities request materials from collaborating institutions, free of charge.

Libraries that students can borrow from include libraries at institutions like Simon Fraser University and the University of Prince Edward Island, Library and Archives Canada, and even the Supreme Court of Canada Library.

RACER materials can be accessed online or delivered in person to locations across U of T. If you opt for the latter option, the waiting time can be considerably long, depending on the format of the requested material and the distance of the institution it is being loaned from. However, good things — and books — come to those who wait.

Zeahaa Rehman is a third-year student at UTM studying Linguistics and Professional Writing and Communication.

An escape into alternate reality with VR at Gerstein Although inching closer to widespread affordability, personal virtual reality (VR) systems are still typically far too expensive, especially given the general lack of content for them thus far. But for U of T students who want a taste of The Matrix without the exorbitant price tag, Gerstein Science Information Centre has you covered.

Moving past the traditional literary purview of libraries, Gerstein now loans out Google Cardboard headsets for up to five days, allowing anyone with a fairly recent smartphone to enter the virtual world. For those looking for an even more immersive experience, room-scale VR can be experienced at MADLab in the firstfloor basement of the building. MADLab features an HTC Vive headset, although an orientation session and a friend to act as a spotter for safety are mandatory for anyone looking to use the device and the accompanying software.

Aspiring VR artists and engineers are also catered to with a RICOH Theta S 360 Camera available for borrowing.

Resources for VR content creation are available on Gerstein’s website.

Remember to return the items on time though — late-fees are a whopping $0.50 per hour.

Spencer Y. Ki is a second-year student at Victoria College studying Astrophysics and Mathematics.

Writing centres help students turn drafts into masterpieces Running out of time to meet upcoming deadlines? At this point in the semester, it is easy for anyone to get overwhelmed — the next few weeks are going to be filled with assignments, essays, and exams.

Now is the time to take advantage of the free academic resources the university offers.

As an undergraduate student, I have tried almost every academic resource on campus, and the resources that have provided me the greatest benefit are the university’s writing centres. It was in my second year when I began using the

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University College Writing Centre. After seeking help, my grades significantly improved compared to my first-year written assignments. Writing centres on campus provide assistance to students at any stage of the process: you can go into a session with as little as an essay outline, or as much as a final draft of a paper. Writing sessions are up to 50 minutes long, but they can be as short as 10 minutes for students who have limited time.

The university writing centres are one of the most underrated academic resources at U of T. With deadlines fast approaching, they can help students offset some stress caused by written assignments.

Areti Tzanetakis is a fourth-year student at University College studying Molecular Genetics and Human Biology.

Stream films on U of T WiFi — it’s fully legal with Criterion-onDemand I found out about Criterion-on-Demand from the amazing Innis College librarian, Kate. It’s a movie streaming website that all U of T students can access. You enter the site through the library website, sign in with your UTORid, and there you go — thousands of movies available for free.

The site has a huge catalogue of primarily North American films from the 1920s to present day, across all genres. From La La Land to Happy Go Lucky to Alien, you’re bound to find something to watch. They even have all the Shrek movies and the best movie of the twenty-first century, Paddington. The site’s interface is a touch archaic, but it’s ultimately easy to navigate.

The site’s only downside is that some movies can only be accessed on the U of T WiFi network. But “every rose has its thorn,” as Julianne Hough sings in the 2012 film adaptation of the musical Rock of Ages — also available to stream from Criterion-on-Demand.

Elspeth Arbow is a fifth-year student at Innis College studying Cinema Studies and Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health Studies.

Editorial

March 26, 2018 var.st/comment editorial@thevarsity.ca

If there’s only one runner, it’s not a race An alarming number of unopposed UTSU candidates renders the elections more show than substance The Varsity Editorial Board

Much of the recent dialogue surrounding the 2018 University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) elections has been dominated by a noticeable lack of political engagement. While these elections are typically accustomed to low voter turnout, this year has seen unusually low turnout from candidates too.

Thirty-six seats on the UTSU Board of Directors are up for grabs in the 2018 spring elections.

Factoring in that many Division I and II categories have multiple seats available, the scarcity of candidates means that only seven of 36 seats are contested. No candidates have currently been publicized for the five Division II seats that are being elected internally — Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Music, and Architecture and Visual Studies — and therefore these seats were excluded from the aforementioned figures.

Last year’s UTSU elections were comprised of four slates, in addition to independents. This year, Compass is the only slate that has put forth candidates for all executive positions — the number of Compass candidates nearly doubles the number of Boundless candidates and independents candidates combined.

Concerningly, three out of seven executive seats in this year’s elections are uncontested.

Among all members of the Board of Directors, executives have the most extensive responsibilities. All of the unopposed executive candidates, if elected, will be required to work a minimum of 25 hours per week. Unlike UTSU directors, executives are also compensated with salaries.

Overall, not including the five Division II seats that will be elected internally, this year’s UTSU elections ultimately see 43 candidates competing for 36 positions — good odds, by all accounts, for those running in this horse race.

Such limited competition is discouragingly undemocratic. In a January editorial, we criticized the high number of resignations the UTSU has experienced this year. These same issues are transferable to the electoral context: the UTSU cannot legitimately claim to speak on behalf of the student body when there are substantial concerns with how those representatives come into office in the first place.

The student body’s disinterest or dissatisfaction with the UTSU is arguably evidenced by consistently poor voter turnout, which in spring

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elections has ranged from nine to 13 per cent over the past few years. The Varsity has also reported on poor attendance from directors at board meetings this year, revealing that as of March 16, a third of sitting directors had missed enough meetings to have effectively abandoned office per the UTSU’s bylaws.

These issues are connected: disengagement from constituents bleeds into the culture of the governing group. If students aren’t even engaged enough to vote in UTSU elections, they are hardly going to commit the time to run as representatives themselves.

Poorly contested elections might also call into question whether a candidate is truly the best for the role. Without competition, there is seemingly little onus on candidates to make a concerted effort to appeal to a healthy number of constituents when there are no opponents to keep them in check. Fortunately, many uncontested candidates in this election cycle have done their due diligence, but having opposition would certainly heighten accountability.

Lack of competition is not a problem isolated to the UTSU. Executive members of the Innis College Student Society (ICSS) — President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President Finance, and Vice-President Internal — have run unop-

posed and won unopposed for at least the past three years in a row. The sole ICSS presidential candidate this year neglected to campaign substantially and was the only candidate who did not submit a platform statement for distribution to the college’s student body. The candidate was nevertheless elected with 84 ‘yes’ votes, a narrow margin over 60 ‘no’ votes and 17 spoiled ballots.

At the ICSS Annual General Meeting in 2016, a motion was passed to eliminate candidacy requirements for the Vice-President Finance and Executive Vice-President candidates, who were previously required to have one year of prior experience on council. The rationale behind this motion was to make elections more inclusive.

Yet, lacking a substantial change in culture at the college, the ICSS executive teams in 2017 and 2018 proceeded to be elected unopposed.

And this year, all executive candidates in the University of Toronto Misissauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) spring elections were uncontested.

It is true that if students are unsatisfied with the options — or, rather, the lack thereof — they aren’t obliged to vote in favour of unopposed candidates. But it is relatively rare for unopposed candidates to be voted down via ‘no’ votes or to fail to reach the simple majority required for elec-

tion into office. Running uncontested remains a reliable plan for election in most cases. In an internal election late last week, despite running unopposed, all three New College director candidates were elected to fill the three available seats.

Even if ‘no’ votes and abstentions do prevent unopposed candidates from being elected, positions left vacant after UTSU spring elections are usually remitted to by-election at the start of the fall semester. But there is no guarantee that byelections will see more candidates running, and voter turnout at by-elections is typically even more abysmal than in the spring.

Numerous candidates in this year’s elections are running on platforms geared toward making the UTSU more accessible, transparent, and “human” to the rest of the student body. But without a sustainable plan for increased engagement, this problem will persist, and we may well find ourselves with even fewer options in 2019.

The Varsity’s editorial board is elected by the masthead at the beginning of each semester.

For more information about the editorial policy, email editorial@thevarsity.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This article is a companion to “Consent in Cyberspace,” a feature soon to be released in The Varsity Magazine documenting student experiences with sexual harassment and violations of privacy in online spaces.

Content warning: Descriptions of sexual harassment, mentions of abuse and rape

W

hen a former co-worker sent Fiona* an unsolicited photo of his penis, he told her he was sexually aroused by her negative response.

Dave* was extorted by a scam artist in the Philippines, who threatened to send his naked photos to family members if he did not pay him.

Manuela* was sexually exploited and psychologically abused by a man on an online forum who she believed to be a pedophile. On one occasion, he threatened to rape her.

I documented these experiences, and others, for The Varsity’s winter magazine this year. I spoke with students who received unwanted sexual messages across social media platforms, whose intimate photos were leaked without their consent, and who, in some cases, found themselves within online spaces that made them fear for their safety.

In the magazine, these stories are grouped together under the umbrella of ‘online sexual harassment,’ in acknowledgement of the similarities in power dynamics and victim impact between digital spaces and the real world.

Yet many of these cases differ in severity and scope, and these differences are further drawn out when discussing what should be done to address them.

Paths to redress can be unclear when threats operate behind a screen.

Whether they opt for formal or informal channels, complainants may run into problems in pursuit of redress.

Online conduct as online crime Many of the conversations I had with students revealed that they were victimized by conduct that could be criminal.

In 2015, an offence was introduced into the Criminal Code banning the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images. Often colloquially known as ‘revenge porn,’ this offence governs cases when intimate photos or videos are shared with others against complainants’ wishes. Max*, Bethany*, Dave, Chloe*, and many of Indira’s* high school classmates cited having such experiences.

Legally, nonconsensual disclosure is substantially more severe when associated with compulsion or intimidation.

Chloe’s ex-girlfriend Evie* threatened to send intimate photos of Chloe to her family if she did not comply with her demands, and ultimately texted pictures of Chloe with her current partner to her mother, obtained from Chloe’s Snapchat Memories that she could still access.

Dave was also transparently extorted for money in exchange for confidence that his scam artist would not further breach his privacy. Chloe went to the police, but ultimately decided not to press charges, and the police never managed to track down Dave’s scammer.

I spoke with Constable David Hopkinson, Corporate Communications representative for the Toronto Police Service (TPS). According to Hopkinson, cases like Dave’s and Chloe’s would likely classify as extortion — an offence carrying a maximum potential penalty of life in prison.

When the subjects of explicit materials are under 18, possession and dissemination can carry child pornography charges. At Indira’s high school, her underage female classmates would frequently find themselves victims of sexting leaks. One of Indira’s peers, groomed by an older online user with whom she had developed a relationship, was traumatized when he posted an explicit photo of her to her Facebook wall. The experience Manuela had with the user who abused her after she refused his persistent requests for nudes happened when she was 14 or 15.

Most of my sources reported receiving unwanted sexually explicit messages and photos on online platforms. For communications to constitute criminal harassment, however, Hopkinson emphasizes that they must reflect an intention to inflict harm or physical violence.

“It can’t just be inappropriate [or] aggressive; it has to be threatening,” says Hopkinson. “‘I’m gonna kill you,’ ‘I’m gonna injure you,’ ‘I’m gonna do this or that,’” is a threat, he says.‘“I’m gonna mess your life up’ is not a threat.”

The legal credibility of such threats is complicated by the online sphere.

Ray* and Manuela were both threatened with sexual violence by people who lived in different jurisdictions, and whom they never met in person. Despite the emotional turmoil that these messages caused them, a criminal court

might not consider their fear reasonable due to that distance.

Individuals victimized by these forms of harassment will continue to seek help from police. Dave had a very positive experience with the TPS, which calmed him down, came to his home to take his report, and stayed in the room while he continued to video chat with the scam artist. Chloe expressed gratitude that the TPS consulted her on what she wished to disclose to her parents, though her frustration at the monthlong delay before they took action also led her to seek help through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Much of the onus still remains on victims to bring their cases forward and to protect themselves. Complainants have to wrangle with how the dynamics of consent operate within digital spaces and apply to their unique circumstances, which is particularly important when dealing with the criminal law.

It might seem obvious that the distribution of intimate images is only criminal if done without consent. “When you give somebody the picture, and you’re giving them ownership of it, you’re expressly giving them consent,” says Hopkinson. “Once you share a picture with someone else, you give them the authority to release it, unless you explicitly say, ‘I do not wish you to share these photos.’”

But senders of intimate photos might not realize that the onus is on them to clearly communicate to recipients that they should not be shared. And not doing so can hurt complainants’ cases — since the recipient has implied ownership of the material unless explicitly denied permission, they also have the authority to do with it what they please.

Distribution of what is now ‘yours’ is not criminal.

The same logic applies to unwanted sexual advances. “With regard to unwanted communication, please understand this: a communication is not unwanted until you tell someone it is unwanted,” says Hopkinson. “Until you say to them, ‘I do not want you to contact me anymore,’ they can continue to contact you. They can continue to say whatever.”

“It serves us better and the law better if people are aware that any unwanted communication is something that they should be stopping first,” adds Hopkinson. “They shouldn’t be waiting for the police to come and tell somebody, ‘Don’t have any more contact with me.’

You should be doing it yourself.”

In an ideal world, potential victims would be as diligent as possible about protecting themselves and preparing materials for future investigations. But given the numerous reasons why complainants would hesitate to report their experiences, something about that onus doesn’t sit right.

From victims to plaintiffs Criminal law has adapted to accommodate online harassment and unwanted disclosure over the years, and it remains an important option, especially in situations when an individual’s safety is at risk. But police forces may be taxed for resources, and complications with the evidentiary record, combined with the high burden of proof required for conviction, means that some complainants may opt for other channels.

Lawyer Molly Reynolds speaks to the potential limitations of the criminal law in addressing certain breaches. In cases of ‘day-to-day’ online harassment, for instance, “even though the victim is suffering a lot of the same consequences to their own wellbeing and to their reputation, they’re unlikely to get much help from the criminal system,” says Reynolds.

Civil litigation can serve as an alternative to criminal proceedings. Compared to the higher burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt in criminal cases, civil suits are decided on a balance of probabilities, and defendants are ordered to pay costs as opposed to correctional penalties. Lawyer Mark Donald says that the civil process can award victims more control over the process, for instance through hiring their own counsel.

A number of torts in Ontario intersect with experiences of online sexual harassment or violations of privacy. For example, the leading precedent on nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images in Ontario is Doe 464533 v ND, a case involving a defendant whose intimate images were posted online by a romantic partner without her consent. Reynolds is currently counsel on the Doe case, which has been remitted to trial after the defendant successfully moved to overturn the initial damages awarded.

In Doe, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice recognized the new tort of “publication of private facts” under the existing category of “invasion of privacy.” This tort allows courts to assess damages based on what the defendant did with the information and whether the plaintiff consented.

Deep trauma can come from such egregious privacy violations. After Max

Solutions beyond the screen Addressing harassment, revenge porn, and other unwanted sexual experiences in cyberspace Article by Teodora Pasca Illustration by Mia Carnevale

had his nudes posted on Tumblr, he experienced psychological distress to the point when his grades suffered and he lost his financial aid. Bethany received an onslaught of additional harassment after a former partner shared her intimate photos with others. When Evie leaked Chloe’s photos to her family, Chloe was forced to tell her father about her sexual orientation.

Civil cases seek to account for such repercussions by calculating financial damages. The problem, however, is quantifying this trauma in an adequate way. Courts continue to grapple with this issue, as it can be difficult to understand the harm to users separated by digital spaces. Both Donald and Reynolds speak to the difficulties courts have experienced when trying to calculate emotional or psychological damages.

Much like criminal prosecution, there are substantial costs and delays involved with civil litigation as well.

Lacking the benefit of police-led investigations, lawyers often go to great lengths to navigate the elements of anonymity that often underlie online interactions, including entering into legal battles over information with data giants like Rogers and Bell.

Not only does this bring legal fees into the thousands of dollars, it also comes with unfettered implications for privacy. Under what circumstances can user information be disclosed and used to trace defendants’ digital footprints?

Successful litigation can lead to immense victories for plaintiffs and financial damages that can work towards accounting for mental turmoil or distress. But many complainants are not in a position to pursue civil claims, especially students who are unable to pay for counsel.

When asked whether litigation is a better alternative to criminal prosecution, Reynolds points to the limitations of civil judgments in addressing online harms. Civil litigation, she says, “doesn’t help stop the conduct if there’s ongoing harassment [and] it doesn’t help stop the spread of images or videos online by other websites or bloggers or posters.

Even if you’re able to obtain an injunction to prevent any further posting by the defendant, it may do very little to actually mitigate the consequences of the initial posting because of the way the internet works.”

However,

Reynolds acknowledges that in some cases, civil litigation is the only option. “It’s not to say that it shouldn’t be pursued,” she adds. “By any means, something is better than nothing.”

Civil cases seek to account for such repercussions by calculating financial damages. The problem, however, is quantifying this trauma in an adequate way.

Remedy through informal channels There are certainly benefits to pursuing redress through formal channels. But doing so can be resource-dependent and bodes no guarantee of efficacy — especially when complainants are unsure whether their experiences are adequately covered under the law.

One way some complainants may find redress is if the incident takes place within the workplace. Fiona received unwanted sexual advances from a coworker shortly after her employment term ended, including an unsolicited photos of his penis. Disturbed, Fiona told her former employer, who took the complaint very seriously and pursued punitive actions against the individual through human resources channels.

Others opt to take things straight to the source. Most social media outlets have attempted to establish anti-harassment policies and reporting tools, and they have made efforts to help users who experience difficulties. When a user hacked into the Snapchat account of one of Talia’s* friends and attempted to force her to send intimate photos, they eventually got in touch with Snapchat, which finally denied the hacker and restored access to her friend.

Such remedies, however, are inherently limited by the platform’s parameters. Adina and Khrystyna have previously tried to report sexist or aggressive Facebook comments, but they were ruled to be in compliance with the platform’s community standards. Ray pointed out that some hook-up and dating apps automatically delete messages after a period of time, making it more difficult to retrieve digital receipts for reporting purposes.

Fortunately, social media outlets are pursuing a number of innovations in this area. In Australia, Facebook piloted a program that enabled users who were worried that their intimate photos would be distributed without their consent to upload the photos via Messenger and turn them into media

fingerprints. Using those fingerprints, the program would then block attempts to re-upload them on the platform.

Ray and Nicole, who were both harassed on dating apps, both mentioned ways in which these platforms can make user experiences safer, such as by integrating ways to report threats or harassment within chat interfaces.

Reynolds suggests the development of a collaborative effort between online platforms and tools to develop a sort of “one-stop shop” where individuals can track where their intimate photos were being reposted and put in requests to have them and the search results related to them removed.

Finally, online communities themselves can be positive facilitators of increased user safety. Women and LGBTQ+ persons in particular can use these platforms to band together against potential threats.

Adina pointed to the existence of Toronto-based Facebook groups designed for sharing personal experiences with sexual harassment and flagging potential threats for other women. Years ago, when I accepted a friend request from one of my Tinder matches, a Facebook friend saw the notification on her news feed and alerted me that the man had been sexually aggressive toward other women she knew.

I am no stranger to this kind of solidarity, and I remain hopeful as online support systems continue to expand.

Moving forward, click by click Legal regulation on unwanted disclosure and online harassment is often associated with a level of caution. Much of the time, police, courts, and legislators are treading uncharted waters, and anticipating potential consequences is key.

But it’s also important to be mindful that the internet is changing rapidly, and society is changing with it. While the law catches up, institutions and

communities can continue to pursue proactive measures and fill shortages in service by supporting one another through times of stress.

The TPS is presently taking action to communicate the importance of internet safety to the community through press releases and education campaigns.

Reynolds suggests that the legal community should strive to fill potential gaps in service provision. The availability of traditional channels and services to victims of online harassment is often unclear, she says. “That’s an area where I think the legal community could be doing a lot more in terms of pro bono services or contributing to self-help resources, so that people can understand what options might be available to them.”

Reynolds adds that such programs may even take the form of experiential student-run clinics, similar to the operation of hubs like Downtown Legal Services.

One thing is clear: whatever measures are adopted to fight online harassment should come in direct consultation with those affected. The feelings of shame, powerlessness, and despair complainants experience should urge us to pursue opportunities for redress and prevention in a way that is mindful of their wishes — and places control back into their hands.

Read the companion piece, “Consent in Cyberspace,” in The Varsity Magazine on stands and online at magazine.thevarsity.ca soon. *Names have been changed at the individual’s request.

Arts&Culture

March 26, 2018 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

Defining your identity, two times over The double consciousness of Asian diaspora

Asian students are still struggling to find the balance between their cultural identities. RACHEL CHEN/THE VARSITY

Carol Eugene Park Varsity Staff

Trying to figure out oneself and one’s purpose within the larger framework of adulthood is a frustrating task. Attempting to discover your identity within the context of globalism and decolonization is not only a lifelong process, but it can be a generational one as well — one that requires revisiting past national traumas to uncover hidden wounds to an individual’s consciousness.

The University of Toronto is one of Canada’s postsecondary institutional hotspots for student diversity.

In the 2016–2017 academic year, U of T accepted international students from 168 countries, with the majority coming from China and India.

Yet, despite the school’s diversity and the endless cultural student associations available to U of T students, some students still struggle to deal with past trauma and identity crises.

Since the introduction of transnational and postcolonial studies, scholars have dedicated a great deal of time and research to the ways in which contemporary society attempts to reconcile the effects of colonialism and national trauma on identity.

The scholar Chih-Yun Chiang defines identity as ‘belongingness’ to a fixed category, along with others who share interconnected cultural and historical contexts and subjective experiences. Chiang argues that having a fixed idea of one’s identity does offer a level of comfort, but that very “reduction of identity to a simple sameness” is actually a product of European colonialism.

That quest for sameness has become adopted by racial minority groups living in western societies,

where youth will often attempt to internalize western values and attitudes in order to belong. This process of assimilation creates a double consciousness that fractures one’s understanding of one's own identity and can thus cause immense pain.

Benzi Zhang, professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, has argued that due to the effects of global diaspora, identifying a single location as ‘home’ means having to reimagine one’s identity, having to “reverse home constantly in a ‘ghostly’ negotiation between fact and fantasy.”

Many diasporans are acutely aware of having at least two cultures and two ‘homes.’ They are constantly grappling with the reality that they are strangers to both the country in which they reside as well as their ‘motherland.’

Diasporic experiences at U of T U of T students of Asian origin are not immune to the effects of the diaspora on personal identity.

Ben Tiangco, a fourth-year Filipino-Canadian student, says that though he was born in the Philippines, he experienced culture shock when visiting the country several years ago when he encountered significant differences between himself and his relatives.

Tiangco also says that the differences between traditional Filipino values and the values he had absorbed in Canada led to clashes with his parents. “My parents would [say], ‘You and your Canadian culture, you’re so disrespectful. You were never like this when you were children.’”

“Then we would pull the card saying, ‘We were raised here and you grew us up here, so we have some sort of valid excuse that we’re

acting like this,’” says Tiangco.

“And they’re like, ‘We never raised you like this.’”

“But… you brought us here, and we were raised like this,” adds Tiangco.

Another common struggle among diasporans, especially those who immigrated to a foreign country at a young age, is the idea of not being ‘ethnic enough.’ This notion of authenticity often contributes to the double consciousness of many diasporans.

“I say [that] I accept being Filipino, I accept I’m Filipino-Canadian but then, when I’m placed in a setting with all Filipinos, I feel so insecure and so out of place… I end up speaking English even though I know I can speak the language,” says Alexis Lubuguin, a third-year Filipino-Canadian student.

Lubuguin says that due to her appearance, people often don’t believe she is Filipino. Her appearance has led her to be seen as not ‘Filipino enough.’ “I know that how I look has been something that they’ve thrown at me,” she says.

“That’s something I’ve always internalized as not good, that I’m so different from them.”

When Julia Kim, a second-year Korean-Canadian student, first arrived in Canada in the first grade, she immediately realized the ethnic difference between herself and her peers.

“I used to bring Asian snacks,” explains Kim. “Sometimes the food or the snack I would bring would smell. [My peers would say,] ‘That smells like trash.’ I’d be offended because that’s my national food.”

“I’d go home and go to my mom and say, ‘Mom, I don’t want you to pack me Korean food... I want you to pack me white food.’”

Kim says that because her inter-

action with other Koreans had been limited to her family members, she was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to integrate into the Korean community at U of T. “I was scared that I would overstep a boundary or not follow a certain rule and then have people judge me for it, for not being ‘Korean enough,’” she says.

Yet despite these common experiences among diasporans, it would be wrong to assume that all diasporans share this narrative.

For Jasmine Choi, a fourth-year Korean-Canadian student, such an identity crisis has not been an issue. “If I go back to Korea, I feel like I don’t really belong to Korean society. If I think about it, I don’t think I belong to the culture here,” says Choi.

Focusing on herself as an individual, rather than a member of the Korean community, helps Choi reconcile these cultural differences.

“I like the term ‘selective isolation’ where I choose to be isolated from the group. That way, you can think about yourself. Living in a multicultural society like Canada, it’s very important to know who you are,” she says. “You don’t need to belong to any group.”

Choi says that her volunteer experience has helped her to understand her likes and dislikes, her strengths and weaknesses. She spent a lot of time thinking about defining herself and understanding what made her happy.

“Knowing those little things, they helped me know better about myself,” she says. “By knowing that, I know how to control myself and not to be in a situation where I feel not comfortable.”

Reduction of identity In her 1966 postcolonial novel Wide Sargasso Sea, Jean Rhys pro-

vides a different narrative for Charlotte Brontë’s character from Jane Eyre, Bertha Mason, who is called Antoinette Cosway in Rhys’ work.

Antoinette marries Mr. Rochester and moves to Thornfield Hall in England, leaving the only home she has ever known in Jamaica. Aside from the broader themes of colonialism and proto-feminism, Rhys imagines a story about how and why Antoinette, a bright and relatively happy young woman, became the madwoman Bertha Mason, who lives in Mr. Rochester’s attic.

Although the novel is told from Antoinette’s perspective, by the end of the book, the reader is not entirely certain who the protagonist is. Antoinette is a fascinating and complex character, a woman whose home and Creole identity was stripped away by a handsome, charismatic colonial man.

Once her husband renames her Bertha Mason, Antoinette is literally stripped of her identity and held in captivity in the gloomy attic of Thornfield Hall. “The glass was between us—hard, cold and misted over with my breath. Now they have taken everything away. What am I doing in this place and who am I?” writes Rhys.

Antoinette’s character encapsulates the experience of many diasporans whose identities cannot be compactly defined because of the effects of colonialism. Their identities become more fragmented as they are reduced to a fixed racial category, confined by colonial interpretations of sameness.

This theme of disconnection and loss is one of great significance to the diasporic identity. “Not to blame everything on other people,” says Kim, “but the more people generalize me, the more I feel like I lose my identity.”

MARCH 26, 2018 • 13

var.st/arts

Theatre review: TCDS’ Sunday in the Park with George A visually stunning production following the life of George Seurat Khyrsten Mieras Varsity Theatre Critic

The Trinity College Dramatic Society (TCDS) opened its last show of the 2017–2018 season with a visually stunning production of the musical Sunday in the Park with George on Wednesday, March 21.

Directed by Shannon Dunbar, the play examines the creation of reallife artist Georges Seurat’s masterpiece “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” which features Parisians promenading at a park on the riverbank. It is a theatrical look at the artistic process, told with honest and humorous truths about life and love, and set in both the past and present.

The story loosely follows the artistic endeavors of George (Winston Sullivan) as he struggles to create meaningful art and maintain a relationship with his partner Dot (Jocelyn Kraynyk). George is obsessed with achieving perfection in his artwork and strives for the approval of

the artistic community; in the process, his art thrives while his love fades.

Sullivan and Kraynyk are talented in the lead roles, giving strong performances in their acting and singing abilities. Kraynyk in particular carries the show with compelling vocals that clearly convey Dot’s frustration with George’s preoccupations.

The supporting cast, whose characters are included in the painting, is also skillful in bringing comic relief to the show in song and dialogue.

Ethan Raymond as Jules, a successful artist, Olivia Thornton-Nickerson as George’s forgetful mother, and Cole Currie as the rowdy boatman provide contrast to the visceral portrayals of George and Dot. While seemingly ordinary at first, the set includes a large projector screen that serves as the backdrop.

The screen comes to life in brilliant animations of George’s famous painting in its various stages, from a simple pencil sketch to the final coloured product. These animations

are powerful in visualizing George’s artistic development, and they add depth to the actors’ performances in the foreground as well.

Another highlight was the show’s accompaniment by a live band onstage, with music from the original production by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. Musical director Michael Henley’s score complements the vibrancy of the scenes as they occur, as well as the pointillism style of George’s painting.

Sunday in the Park with George has a striking juxtaposition of musical and visual art aspects, especially in its animated set design. It’s an enjoyable theatre-going experience, one that gives a poignant examination of the lives of the people in the painting.

Disclosure: Ethan Raymond is one of The Varsity’s Lead Copy Editors; Cole Currie is The Varsity’s Deputy News Editor.

Winston Sullivan on the George Ignatieff Theatre stage, portraying the French pointillist painter, George. PHOTO BY ASHLEY SMITH, COURTESY OF THE TCDS

GHEYANA PUBDININGRAT/THE VARSITY

America’s Next Top Model’s problematic past Tyra Banks and company have come a long way in 14 years Isabel Armiento Varsity Staff

After 14 years and 24 cycles, America’s Next Top Model (ANTM) is proving that age doesn’t necessarily mean retirement in the fashion world. While viewership has plummeted in the later seasons — the show was briefly cancelled after

cycle 22 — its core fanbase still tunes in every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm to see which contestant’s photograph is not in presenter Tyra Banks’ hand.

Longtime viewers have been lamenting what they deem a loss of the show’s original spirit, decrying the commercial branding and social media challenges that have

come to dominate the competition.

We can all undoubtedly agree that part of the show’s soul has been lost along this long journey, along with Janice Dickinson’s hilariously cruel photo critiques, sweet-heart photographer Nigel Barker, and Mr. and Miss J: Jay Manuel and J. Alexander.

But as much as we miss old-

school ANTM, there are many insidious aspects of the show’s earlier days that viewers should be glad are missing from cycle 24.

Of all the problematic moments on ANTM, the most iconic is from cycle four, when Banks broke character and lost her cool at Tiffany, one of the competing models.

Banks was outraged at Tiffany’s nonchalance to her elimination, screaming, “I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you! How dare you?”

“I can’t change it, Tyra... I’m sick of crying about stuff that I cannot change… I’m sick of being disappointed,” responded Tiffany tearfully. But Banks refused to accept her excuse.

By cycle 24, Banks has become much more accepting of the models’ personal choices, and more understanding that the modelling competition does not trump a contestant’s mental health and wellbeing. When Brendi K. chose to leave in the current cycle, saying, “I’m taking care of me because as much as I love this competition… I need to be happy because it’s something I’ve had so little of in my life,” Banks’ reaction was one of support, giving her a hug and agreeing that the contestant’s mental health is more important than being on the show.

ANTM’s history is replete with other examples of problematic events. It’s difficult not to rewatch the cycle 4 ‘racial switching’ photoshoot in horror, as some models don actual blackface. “The challenge here really is taking on the persona of that other ethnicity while in the photograph and owning it” said Jay Manuel during that episode.

Shoots like this continued all the

way through until cycle 13, which featured a photoshoot of models portraying biracial versions of themselves. Banks eventually apologized for this, albeit far too late.

Though ANTM presents itself as inclusive of all body types, it is also still a major culprit of bodyshaming. “America’s Next Top Model is not a plus-sized model,” scoffed Dickinson, dismissing the show’s first plus-sized model, Toccara, purely on her size. In cycle four, judges continually shamed Keenyah for gaining weight during the competition, tailoring her photoshoots to her new ‘fat girl’ persona by casting her as Gluttony in a Seven Deadly Sins challenge and as an elephant in a safari-themed photoshoot.

Lack of body-inclusivity was far from ANTM’s only issue. Contestants uncomfortable with nudity for religious reasons were not accommodated; a contestant in cycle two was eliminated because she refused to pose nude. In a cycle four shoot with male models, Keenyah stopped the shoot because she was uncomfortable with the unsolicited touching and “moaning” of one of the male models. Her complaints were unaddressed and belittled.

ANTM has made progressive steps over the last few years though, allowing for models with a variety of traits and of different backgrounds to take centre stage.

Hopefully, ANTM will ensure that new, diverse casts constitute the norm, rather than lucky anomalies.

With only four girls left this cycle — Khrystyana, Shanice, Rio, and Kyla — the competition is fierce. ‘Next level fierce,’ as Banks might say.

Science

March 26, 2018 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

Farewell, Professor Hawking U of T remembers the renowned astrophysicist Spencer Y. Ki Varsity Staff

I first learned of Dr. Stephen Hawking from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode originally aired in 1993, this brief foray on screen saw Hawking playing poker with Einstein, Newton, and android Lieutenant Commander Data. Physics jokes were made, Hawking won the hand, and the cameo was over.

Given the endless index of extraordinary events that made up Hawking’s incredible life, which came to a sombre end this March 14, I could have easily chosen a more important event to begin this tribute, but I chose this memory because I remembered my precise childhood reaction to that scene: ‘I have no idea who this person is, but if he’s next to Einstein and Newton, he must be awesome.’

I strongly believe that that cameo will prove prophetic, and that Hawking will be remembered with the likes of Einstein and Newton.

An extraordinary mind, he made great strides working on the fundamental problem of physics: finding a unified theory to reconcile the vastly differing physics of the small, quantum mechanics, with the physics of the large, relativity. Along the way, he revolutionized astrophysics and cosmology with a plethora of theories, including the much-lauded Hawking radiation.

“Stephen combined Einstein’s general relativity of spacetime with quantum mechanics, two of the biggest developments in physics in the first half of the 20th century, to investigate the basic laws which govern the universe,” wrote Dr. AW Peet, a professor in the Department of Physics and a 25-year acquaintance of Hawking, in an email to The Varsity.

“He discovered Hawking Radiation, showing that black holes are not completely black: they can emit weak radiation and eventually evaporate completely. His Black Hole Information Paradox posed over forty years ago

is still a very active field of research today,” continued Peet.

Dr. J. Richard Bond, a professor at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, also noted Hawking’s ubiquity in cosmology.

“Everything I have been working on lately on sabbatical at Stanford has had Hawking discussion arising about it: Hawking temperature, GibbonsHawking entropy, black hole evaporation, [and] wave function of the universe,” said Bond.

It is clear that Hawking’s brilliance cannot be overstated. Yet it wasn’t just his brilliance that netted his multiple television cameos, and it likewise is not only for his astrophysical acuity that the world mourns him today. Of equal measure to his mind was his incredible capacity to convey the most complex of ideas to a general audience in a humourous, straightforward, and engaging way.

“People whom I clearly recall coming up to me at cocktail parties to explain, with satisfaction, that they never could do chemistry, decided, instead, that their lives would be incomplete if they did not encounter Stephen Hawking. They were right,” said Nobel laureate Dr. John Polanyi, University Professor in U of T’s Department of Chemistry.

Polanyi made that statement 20 years ago, addressing a packed Convocation Hall, when Hawking came to visit U of T in April 1998. It carries no flippant embellishment.

With his popular science book A Brief History of Time selling more than 10 million copies since its publication in 1988, it is no exaggeration to say that Hawking has inspired generations of scientists.

At one end of the spectrum are long-time physicists like Peet.

“I first met Stephen in 1992 when I was a baby Ph.D. student, at a dinner party of theoretical physicists at Stanford,” wrote Peet. “I was inspired to work on the research topics I investigate partly by his deep theoretical physics insights.”

Hawking’s following only grew in the twentyfirst century, rousing another wave of young scientists to explore the universe.

“I remember reading A Brief History of Time during my days as an undergrad,” recalled Matt Young, a PhD student in the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics. “Instead of coming across as a dry lecture, the book told the story of the universe and all its fascinating physics at a level that was accessible by everyone.”

Even after his death, Hawking’s mammoth influence in the field continues to generate enthusiasm in the next generation of physicists.

“I still have my own wellworn copy of A Brief History of Time on my bookshelf from days of old,” said secondyear Physics and Philosophy

student Patrick Fraser. “It was arguably that introduction to physics that inspired my own journey, hoping to one day be a physicist myself.”

Although a physicist and cosmologist, Hawking always sought to promote not just a single field, but the attitude and spirit of science in general.

Having worked tirelessly in his promotion of rational thought and public involvement in research, it is not only students of physics who answered his call. “[He was] truly an inspiration,” said secondyear Electrical and Computer Engineering student Tobias Rozario. “A Brief History of Time helped develop my passion in physics and engineering.”

Second-year Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry student Matthew Gene expressed similar sentiments. “Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to all — not just in his work, but also in the way he lived. Despite being diagnosed with a terminal disease, Hawking fought on, continuing to be... one of the most recognisable public faces in science. As a student in the Life Sciences, it’s the resolve of men like Hawking that makes me dream of a better future for medicine and humanity.”

Yet among the multitude of thoughtful sentiments, there is one fact that remains to be mentioned: the inevitable image of Hawking speaking in the familiar programmed voice of his omnipresent wheelchair. Fraser succinctly addresses this elephant in the room.

“It is true that he was a great scientist despite his physical limitations. However, what many people perhaps fail to realize is that he was a great scientist, period,” said Fraser.

Although iconic, Hawking’s amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not what society should focus on when remembering him. Instead, we should remember one of the greatest minds of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, who grappled with problems about the very underpinnings of the universe and left an academic legacy for the aeons.

We should remember a brilliant writer and unmistakable orator, who used his astonishing talent for communication to promote a better future for all of humankind.

We should remember, perhaps above all, an unbreakable human spirit, who once, in the words of Peet, “unexpectedly sped off down the steep driveway... for fun, with a huge grin on his face, enjoying the apparent consternation on the faces of non-disabled folks around him.”

Hawking — a Companion of Honour, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics — is an essential contradiction in the world. He was unable to physically perform and partake in so much that society fundamentally associates with humanity, yet one would be hard-pressed to find someone who lived a fuller life than Stephen Hawking.

MARCH 26, 2018 • 15

var.st/science

“To have been on the leading edge of physics with such a disease over so many decades has to be one of the greatest triumphs of human will in the history of humankind. His life was a celebration of human spirit.”

— Dr. J. Richard Bond, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics

“Always he insisted [that] mankind stop its pursuit of insane weaponry, hinting that our imaginations had become paralyzed. He will be remembered for centuries.”

— Dr. John Polanyi, Nobel Chemistry laureate, Department of Chemistry

“Stephen was a brilliant mind, a phenomenal researcher, a truly extraordinary scientist.

He also had a magnificent sense of humour.

For example, he once famously drove over Prince Charles’s foot while showing him some wheelchair tricks. Don’t refer to Stephen as “wheelchair bound” or “suffering from” ALS/ motor neurone disease or other pity-based words to describe disability. His wheelchair and robot voice system didn’t constrain him – instead, they liberated him.”

— Dr. AW Peet, Department of Physics

“I think Stephen Hawking will be remembered with the likes of Newton [and] Einstein, people that revolutionised their fields and dedicated their lives to understanding the world around us. Much of [today’s] research on topics such as black holes is directly building on Hawking’s contribution to science.”

— Matt Young, PhD student, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics

“The sheer magnitude of his accomplishments in the field was astounding, entirely irrespective of the difficulties of his daily life... In the history of science, [his] academic achievements have been matched by few... He will be missed, but his legacy will live on.”

— Patrick Fraser, Physics and Philosophy specialist student

“His death caught me off guard. I never really expected him to die. Much like the Queen, I saw him as a staple of culture that just ‘exists.’”

— Daniel Wardzinski, Computer Science major, Mathematics and Philosophy double minor student

“He showed me that success comes from how you think and not what people think of you. I guess a lot of people measure how successful they are by how people look at them, but Hawking didn’t care about that.”

— Jenoshan Sivakumar, Astrophysics specialist student

“His collaborations with his daughter Lucy Hawking to write children’s books on space and science were incredibly influential on my childhood. They played a part in why I decided to learn physics.”

— Abhinav Bhargava, Physics and Philosophy specialist student “Great scientists are rare, and great explainers are possibly even rarer. But in [A Brief History of Time], Stephen Hawking wrote about complicated concepts so well that they seemed almost intuitive.”

— Cameron Davies, Mathematics specialist, Ethics, Society, and Law major student

“Dr. Hawking was a genius and a pioneer in physics, but what was most inspiring about him was his pursuit of passion and of life in the face of adversity.”

— Hansen Jiang, Astrophysics specialist, Computer Science minor student

“It’s safe to say that Stephen Hawking is half the reason we’re here. He inspired an entire generation to look to the stars and imagine the unimaginable. To say he’ll be missed would be a drastic understatement.”

— U of T Astronomy & Space Exploration Society

John Polanyi is pictured directly beside Stephen Hawking, who delivered a lecture at U of T in 1998.

COURTESY OF JOHN POLANYI

16 • THE VARSITY • SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

The U of T engineering student who contributed to Oscar-winning film The Shape of Water

Science Around Town Charmaine Nyakonda Varsity Staff

Understanding Depression in a Social, Psychological, and Biological Context Depression is one of the most sensitive matters to discuss.

This talk provides an opportunity for individuals to explore depression from different angles and explore social, psychological, and biological factors that leave people at risk of depression.

Date: Monday, March 26 Time: 6:30–8:00 pm Location: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street, Beeton Auditorium Admission: Free with registration

Charles Katrycz talks about making the tank that carried del Toro’s amphibious monster

Self-Care and Dementia — SAAUT Annual Conference The Student Alzheimer’s Alliance will be hosting its fifth annual conference. This year’s focus will be on self-care and how it impacts the onset of dementia.

Speakers will discuss how factors like music, mental health, and diet can affect dementia.

Charles Katrycz works in prop production at Walter Klassen FX in Toronto. SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

Fakeha Jamil Varsity Contributor

The Shape of Water, with an astonishing 13 Oscar nominations, took home the prize for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards. The movie, centring around the unique bond between a mute custodian and a humanoid sea creature in the Cold War era, has close ties to Toronto. While familiar Toronto locations like Massey Hall and the Andrews Building at UTSC make an appearance in the film, the role of one U of T student in the film’s production is worthy to note as well.

The Varsity had the opportunity to meet Charles Katrycz, a Master of Engineering candidate at U of T, who was on the team at camera and prop manufacturer Walter Klassen FX that worked on prop production for the film. Together, they built the tank that transported the sea creature. We spoke with Katrycz about his role as a member of the production team, his career as an engineer, and his experience as a student.

The Varsity: Can you tell us about yourself, your area of study, as well as your career in engineering and design so far?

Charles Katrycz: I have been an MEng student at U of T for about six months, and I did my undergrad in physics at McGill.

I worked in between for about

six years and did a wide range of things, but if there was something central, it was that I explored different ways of making things.

I started out doing carpentry and home renovations, so I was always involved in design and fabrication. Making things was important, but I was interested in the physics behind the processes.

When building a home, I thought about the thermal flux of energy and how that could be mitigated in new buildings. Then I started building my own devices that were based on physical processes.

I was always trying to come up with ways of making things.

into a shape. While I was working on this I got into wearable technology and the applications of this processes. I ended up doing an artist’s residency at Autodesk in San Francisco. While I was there I learned a lot about digital fabrication. Working with them, I developed a skill for different kinds of fabrication techniques and ended up coming back to Toronto looking for work in that kind of studio environment. Then I learned about Walter Klassen props in the east end of Toronto.

It was a really magical place as it had some 30 odd years of movie history.

TV: How did you decide to stop working for a while before pursuing your MEng? CK: In the process of making things, I realized the process required a better understanding from me to be able to model it, understand it, and use it in a more precise way.

TV: How did you come to be involved in The Shape of Water?

CK: The first day I came in to Walter Klassen, they had this great big steel scaffold with some styrofoam positioned on it and said that they were making this tank. They told me that it was for The Shape of Water and that Guillermo del Toro was the director, so I was excited right off the bat to be working on a movie that I would like to watch.

The title of the film ended up being relevant because all I had been doing was working with fluids and creating shapes with it. I thought that was serendipity in a sense. I ended up helping build this tank with about 10 other people. That was a four- to five-month period where I got to apply a lot of my skills, but it wasn’t somewhere where I got a

TV: How did you end up working at Walter Klassen?

CK: Things began with me doing experiments in my basement while working as a carpenter. In that time, I developed a process for making wearable thermal garments that pump fluid to my skin and then away. In that process, it absorbs or delivers heat to my body. This was the focus for me — I was very excited about the physics behind these designs. It was done in a way that allowed the material to merge

creative spark to design myself. It was a great experience and now, two years later, I’m able to say, “Wow this movie just won Best Picture!”

TV: Can you tell us more about the process behind building the tank? How was it like collaborating with the production team as an engineer?

CK: An artistic rendering comes in through a creative director or prop master who will be working for the production company or the director. They ensure that the creative vision is consistent throughout the film, because there are so many people working on the production. For example, the seafoam green colour of the walls in the set had to be the same as the tank that rolls into the set. This colour is a permeating aesthetic. From beginning to end, that colour shows up in the costumes, sets, and props. They’ll ask to see 10 different samples of this seafoam green and pick the one specific shade they want. Once you have an artistic rendering, you have to make a 3D model using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This is used to model the overall the shape and look as well as the mechanical systems. CAD creates a virtual model to make sure that, mechanically, everything makes sense.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Date: Tuesday, March 27 Time: 5:00–9:00 pm Location: Medical Science Building, 1 King’s College Circle Admission: Free with registration WCD Campus Tour | Panel Discussion — Answer Whatever You Want to Know About...

Are you thinking of switching into the data science field?

Come to a panel discussion hosted by WeCloudData to find out more about trends in the data science job market. The panel will consist of five data scientists and business analysts.

Date: Tuesday, March 27 Time: 6:00–10:00 pm Location: Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Room 103 Admission: Free with registration Horizons in Cancer Stem Cells Research Conference The Genetics Society of U of T invites you to its first annual conference, which will shed light on cancer stem cell research.

Come and hear presentations from pediatric neurosurgeononcologists and Dr. Peter Dirks, the researcher who discovered brain cancer stem cells, among others.

Date: Saturday, March 31 Time: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Location: Medical Science Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Room 2170 Admission: Free with registration

Sports

March 26, 2018 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

Climbing machine? Hell no!

A first-year student reminisces about her disastrous first trip to Goldring Centre

MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY

Jackie Emick Associate Sports Editor

As a former high school studentathlete, I thought I would be able to confidently stroll into the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport and work out without feeling the least bit intimidated or self-conscious.

News flash: it’s not that easy, and I was dead wrong.

My first day at Goldring was the third day of my frosh week. I thought it would be a great idea to get in a nice morning

workout, but the second I entered the building I soon felt out of place.

Almost everyone around me was wearing Varsity Blues athletic gear, showing it off with confidence. At this point I was anxious, sticking out like a sore thumb, with my bright pink t-shirt and neon green shorts in a sea of dark blue.

I ran on the treadmill — quite slowly, I might add — due to the fear of being looked at for my bad form and awkward stance. I then moved up to the weight racks on the fourth floor,

the building’s notoriously intimidating and dignity-crushing area. The weight racks have been known as a place for football jocks and weightlifters alike, and they will now forever be known as the place where my soul died.

I proceeded to find a rack, completely oblivious to this unspoken rule, and prepared to squat. Of course, I could not squat that much, not even close to one plate, so I decided to use just the bar. Bar in hand, preparing to squat, I stared in the mirror, and saw all of the athletes working out

their already near-perfect physiques. I couldn’t help but feel all eyes were on me, an inexperienced first-year, even though no one could care less. Cringing from my own thoughts, I proceeded to abort the mission and run back down to the treadmill before I even lifted the bar off the rack.

Phew. I made it back to the second floor, the land of cardio, and in my eyes, an area that I really couldn’t mess up in even if I tried. I thought wrong.

My eyes were drawn to a climbing machine that seemed less intimidating.

It made me feel comfortable knowing a non-varsity-gear-wearing student was successfully using it. I stepped up and started to climb. This was the alldefining moment where my dignity just completely went out the window. I climbed for a grand total of 10 seconds before feeling every muscle in my body cramp. Then I gladly proceeded to stumble off the machine and fall to the ground. To this day, I have so much respect for that person on the machine as I watched them climb with ease for another five minutes from my very comfortable place on the gym floor.

Panicking as to what I should do next, I found some free weights, hid in a corner, and did some lunges, secluding myself from the judgment that I thought was being projected onto me.

Walking, or more like limping, out of my first trip to Goldring was probably the most embarrassingly painful walk I’ve ever had leaving a gym.

Now, nearing the end of my firstyear, I have personally conquered the beast that I call Goldring Centre. For

future U of T students, or anyone too scared to attempt to go to the facility, I have three tips to help you get over your fears and enter the gym.

Go with friends: going with my friends really helped me feel more comfortable. A gym buddy is a great way to have someone to spot you or to laugh with you when you fail on a machine.

Try one of U of T’s other gyms: Hart House is a great place for gym beginners, with people of all ages using the facility. Most athletes stick to the Goldring Centre, so if you’re afraid of intimidating peers, don’t worry. All U of T gyms have most of the same equipment so you won’t be missing out.

STOP CARING: if you want to enter the beast called Goldring Centre, just do it. People really do not care about how you work out, in comparison to popular belief. Just do you. Wear what you’re comfortable wearing, lift what you can lift, and don’t compare yourself to Varsity Blues athletes. They’ve been training their whole lives for this.

Although I normally workout at Hart House, I enter Goldring once in a while and still feel comfortable doing so. Finding what works for you is the most important thing you can do. I hope that through sharing my embarrassing story, I can help other students realize that, yes, we all have bad gym experiences that make us want to curl up into a ball and retreat, but that doesn’t mean we should avoid working out altogether.

Lessons I learned from my rookie season How my first year on the Varsity Blues field hockey team shaped my varsity career Julia Costanzo Varsity Staff

First year is hard for everyone, but it is often especially hard for student-athletes, as rookie season is an overwhelming mass of new experiences. Entering my first season on the Varsity Blues field hockey team, I was thrust into a world of new teammates, workouts, practice schedules, classes, and responsibilities.

I remember my first season as a difficult transition period — I had to adjust quickly, especially because we compete in the fall — but the lessons I learned then are still relevant now in my third year, and they often inform my actions both on and off the field.

My rookie season also taught me to value my teammates. Playing a varsity sport is a unique opportunity to form lasting friendships. The moment I joined the team, I gained 20 new friends and relied on their support during the beginning of my first year.

Since I was usually training at the downtown campus, I didn’t know anyone at UTM, where I attended classes. My teammates were always there to talk to me, give me advice, and support me whenever I needed it most. It was during that first month, as I navigated two unfamiliar campuses, that my teammates made me feel like I belonged somewhere — they became my family. This is why when new

players join our team each season, I make sure to welcome them, include them, and support them the way my teammates did when I was a rookie.

My rookie season also taught me how to be a good leader. In my first year, our leadership team comprised of four highly experienced players, three of whom were in their fifth season and three of whom had national team experience. Collectively, they kept us motivated and focused, made sure everyone felt included, and maintained a high level of intensity at practice and workouts. Whenever one of our captains told me I was doing a good job, it always meant a lot and encouraged me to keep improving.

Now, as one of the captains of the team, I remember how my captains made me feel during my rookie season, and I strive to create similar experiences for our first years.

My rookie season introduced me to the Blues field hockey culture of excellence. Our coach always encouraged us to be better. Winning games was not enough; we could always be faster, fitter, smarter, more skilled, and play better as a team. We spent countless hours working out, running suicides, watching videos, drawing plays, and practicing to improve as a team. I felt everyone around me — my coaches, my teammates, and our support staff — give their best effort to ensure our success. This atmosphere

existed long before my rookie season, continues today, and will continue in the future, even long after I graduate.

It’s important to me that I instill this work ethic in my younger teammates just as my veteran teammates did for me in order to ensure that this tradition of excellence continues.

Moreover, my rookie season taught me how to earn my spot on the field.

During my first season we had a big squad that required we leave five players off every game day roster. During the first three weeks of my rookie season, I watched half our games from the stands. By the fourth week, I was motivated to prove I was good enough by performing my best at practice and in games. Eventually, I would even earn a spot on our provincial and national championship rosters. My experience vying for a spot on our competition roster taught me to value every minute I play in my Blues uniform. I know I’ve earned every opportunity, and I’m reminded to continue working hard to earn my playing time.

My rookie season taught me what it feels like to win. During the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) final of my rookie season, we were down 3–0 early in the game, but we refused to lose. We fought back and ended up scoring four unanswered goals to win 4–3 and capture the OUA banner.

I vividly remember moments from that game: celebrating our tying goal,

Julia Costanzo looks to play the ball up the field.

PHOTO BY MARTIN BAZYL, COURTESY OF THE VARSITY BLUES

watching Amanda Woodcroft score a diving top corner reverse stick shot — probably the best goal I’ve ever seen — to give us the lead, defending a penalty corner as the seconds wound down, and, finally, sprinting to join my teammates in a group hug as the buzzer sounded. I will never forget the shared determination to win and the celebration of achievement our team felt that day. In every game I play, I chase these emotions.

My rookie season also taught me how to lose. During our final round robin match at the U SPORTS championship, a last-minute goal knocked us out of the finals. Unlike the win a week prior at the OUA Championship, I didn’t hoist the trophy in the air this time. Instead, it was ripped away in a split second. I still feel the crushing, heart-stopping defeat I experienced standing on the field at the University of Victoria

when I realized our chance to win a national championship was over. As a rookie, I experienced the reality of a demoralizing defeat and decided I never wanted to feel that way again.

During difficult workouts or practices I always remember this feeling — reminding myself how horrible I felt that day and motivating myself to keep working so that I never feel like that again.

Everything I experienced in my rookie season follows me. As a studentathlete, it influences me everyday.

Traits I picked up from my veteran teammates have shaped the way I support our younger athletes. The team’s culture of excellence has never stopped since my first day in a Blues uniform — and I continue to pass on this tradition to my new teammates.

I value every minute I play — striving for success and constantly motivated by memories of defeat.

18 • THE VARSITY • SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

One last face off with Charlie Connell The Blues captain reflects on his love for hockey Daniela Ruscica Varsity Staff

Some people play hockey recreationally, while others play it competitively. Those individuals train through the hurt and pain, driven by deeper motivation.

As captain of the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team, Connell is driven by his passion for the game, which is a defining characteristic throughout the history of his career.

When I met Connell for an interview, it was evident he had energy and drive when he talked about his craft.

The long-time defender says hockey has been everything to him, and taught him valuable lessons. Connell explains that playing hockey entails “learning a lot about yourself [and] other people.”

He appreciates “the opportunity to come to a great school and play hockey, to do what you love with a bunch of guys that you love.”

Regarding his relationship to the sport, Connell says, “I hold so much value to hockey because... it’s shaped me, helped me and allowed me to do a lot that I probably wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t playing hockey... I think it’s been everything to me.”

The Blues captain has much to be

proud of after playing out five years with the Varsity Blues. As Connell reflects on his years on the team, he says without hesitation that his biggest accomplishment was being named captain.

It was an incredible opportunity that goes unmatched for him, and he “really cherished the opportunity to do that.”

Connell will graduate this year and be remembered as an outstanding and passionate captain.

He has played a total of 113 career games with U of T, and 27 were played this season alone. He was also named an All-Star Defender in 2015–2016 and was instrumental in developing a strong sense of team community.

Connell says, “I always found I was having the most fun when I was playing my best, and it goes vice versa as well.” He believes there is a correlation between the love of the game and performance and admits that “when you’re playing, you’re most confident and when you’re having the most fun is when you’re playing your best.”

Connell says that he hasn’t always been a defender. A few years ago, he was switched from the forward line to the defense line. He thinks this gave him a deeper understanding

of the game, as he has experienced both sides of the spectrum.

Now, as a defender, Connell enjoys being able to “be a bit more patient at the blue line, being able to control the pace play, [and] really being able to see the whole ice,” which not a lot of positions allow. Connell was named the Best Defenceman in 2015–2016 hockey season.

Connell believes lessons learned from hockey can be taken off the ice and applied more broadly to his life.

He says, “[Hockey has] completely shaped me and been a huge asset moving forward in my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

The hardest lesson that he learned through hockey was the importance of a short-term memory. He says “every shift is a new shift, every game is a new game. You [learn to] put the past behind you and kind of just keep moving forward.”

As the captain, it is Connell’s job to keep his team motivated, which is especially important in such a cooperative sport as hockey. He attributes all success back to his team.

Connell’s definition of hockey revolves around teamwork, as he explains that it is a sport “that comes down to everyone pulling

in the same direction and really needing everyone on the same page.”

He has given some thought to playing professional hockey, but he explains that “you gotta make some decisions to what you wanna do in life” and pro hockey is not in his cards. He says he is “content with [his] career” and that, although he’ll miss his skates, “it was a good place to hang ’em up and move on and turn the next page.”

Connell is optimistic about the future of the team, and thinks “the team is headed in the right way with a new coach and kind of a new identity.” He sees “a lot of good ahead for the team [and that they] can do a lot moving forward and win a lot of games.”

Moving forward, Connell knows his teammates will carry on without him, and he emphasizes the importance of working together as a unit. He reflects on his time on the team and cautions the next generation of players to relish their time on the ice.

Charlie Connell looks to shoot the puck toward goal.

PHOTO BY MARTIN BAZYL, COURTESY OF THE VARSITY BLUES

“Going through the highs and lows of the seasons [with your team] is the stuff you’re gonna always remember,” he explains.

Connell is a role model and a star player. He will be a part of a lifelong legacy on the Varsity Blues men’s hockey team. Although the future is still uncertain, Connell will certainly carry his passion and drive into whatever career he chooses to pursue.

Indigenous Studies Students’ Union offer helping hand Sarnia’s Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen hockey team receive support Vincent Ruan Varsity Staff

All it takes is one phone call. Earlier this month, the annual Little Native Hockey League took place in Mississauga. The league, which is for First Nation youth, consists of 209 teams and approximately 3,000 players.

One team in particular caught the attention of the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union (ISSU) at the University of Toronto: Sarnia’s Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen.

The Hitmen are a hockey team based out of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia, Ontario. As a youth hockey team, they don’t receive a lot

of funding. One of their coaching staff made a call for support, prompting the ISSU to take action. One of the union’s coordinators, Joshua Bowman, decided to lend a helping hand.

“They reached out to us for community connections and financial stability to see if we could make something happen,” said Bowman.

Sarnia’s Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen hockey team with members of ISSU’s executive.

PHOTO COURTESY OF INDIGENOUS STUDIES STUDENTS’ UNION

With the help of the ISSU, the boys were able to afford teamwear and even have a party after the tournament.

As long-time fans of the Little Native Hockey League, Bowman and the members of the union felt that supporting the Hitmen was more than just an act of kindness.

They hoped their actions could have an impact on Indigenous youth and groups in Canada.

“It’s a great opportunity for Indigenous children to flourish in an environment that’s designed for them,” said Bowman. The tournament seeks to provide players with skills such as fair play and sportsmanship, which will bring success on and off the rink. “It also makes the Indigenous youth proud to be from their communities and a culture that has historically been disenfranchised from them,” he added.

Bowman described the union’s collaboration with the Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen as a success. “I just remember when I was a kid playing sports, getting a team jacket was like no other feeling quite like it. Walking around my school and showing everybody my team I played with, the group of friends that I had, just means that much more,” said Bowman.

For Bowman and his peers, bringing a little light to the kids’ day was a great reward. “In the end the impact was seeing the smile on their faces.”

Bowman added that this positive impact can help create pride in the

kids’ identity, because in “a lot of educational institutions, such as ours, people have been made to feel ashamed of their identities.”

The ISSU, which is a course union under the Faculty of Arts and Science Students’ Union, strives to foster “respectful relationships within and beyond the membership in the spirit of the Indigenous values of friendship and community.” They provide services and support students who need a helping hand on campus and hold events, such as the annual Pow Wow, which brought in more than hundreds of spectators and volunteers.

One of their goals is to make the University of Toronto a place where Indigenous peoples can feel accepted.

The ISSU exemplifies how people can come together and appreciate one another’s cultures. Still, there’s a lot of work yet to be done in order to create true equality. “There are media outlets everywhere that love to paint Indigenous people in a negative light, and it’s because of this Indigenous people are politically, socially and economically marginalized,” said Bowman.

Giving students, and more importantly, children, a chance to showcase their talents is necessary first step.

“We are just providing a platform for those voices to be heard, so by helping the Aamjiwnaang Jr. Hitmen and doing more events like these it’s a step in the right direction.”

MARCH 26, 2018 • 19

var.st/sports

Leafs bloom as playoffs loom Auston Matthews is key for the team’s postseason hopes

Where Vegetarians Take Meat Eating Friends Lunch Brunch Dinner

124 Harbord Street (416) 901 5901 www.harvestkitchen.ca Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen makes a key save in the playoffs.

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Chris Faria Varsity Contributor

As the NHL season winds down, the push for the playoffs is on as teams prepare to contend for the most treasured trophy in hockey: Lord Stanley’s Cup. After 74 games played, the Toronto Maple Leafs have solidified their position as the third seed in the Atlantic Division, meaning they will likely face the Boston Bruins in the first round.

It was nearly five years ago when the Phil Kessel-led Maple Leafs carried an infamous 4–1 lead in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarter finals against the Boston Bruins only to see the Bruins claw their way back and eventually win the series in overtime. A lot has changed since then, and the Leafs are looking less like underdogs this time around.

Since the start of the 2016–2017 season, the Leafs have owned the Bruins, sporting a 7-2 record against them over that stretch.

While the Bruins have put together an impressive campaign this season, the Leafs may have the upper hand come playoff time.

The Leafs have been historically impressive in their own right: they are on pace to surpass their franchise records of 103 points and 45 wins. That being said, there are still a few things that must fall into place if the Leafs are going to make a run in this year’s playoffs.

First of all, Toronto must enter the playoffs with a clean bill of health. While the Leafs were the second healthiest team in the league last year, they have been bitten by the injury bug as of late. Auston Matthews has been plagued by numerous ailments over the course of the season; the Leafs’ star centre has missed 10 games and just returned from a recent shoulder injury. If Matthews is able to heal up and enter the playoffs in good health, it will provide a huge boost to the Leafs.

Another key player to keep an eye on is netminder Frederik Andersen. The Great Dane has put up a .918 save percentage while facing more shots than any other goalie in the league and featuring in a whopping 60 games thus far. The concern here is not Andersen’s injury history, but rather the potential for injury or at least fatigue due to his incredibly high workload.

The other obstacle standing in the way of the Leafs’ potential cup run is, of course, the opposition, and the Leafs’ path seems to be a treacherous one. Should the Leafs defeat the Bruins in the first round, they will likely face the Atlantic division champion Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round. If the Leafs can pull off the second round upset, they will then likely see the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the Leafs somehow surpass these three foes, they will then take on the best of the West: the Predators, Jets, and Golden Knights are the top contenders here, and all of them have posted better seasons than Toronto.

All things considered, it would be a stretch to expect the Leafs to contend for the cup this year: they are a little too inexperienced and inconsistent, and there are simply too many strong contenders standing in their way.

However, this does not mean that expectations are nonexistent in Toronto. Having added Thomas Plekanec at the trade deadline to solidify their depth at centre, the Leafs are certainly hoping to win at least a series or two. While I wouldn’t urge fans to plan the parade just yet, the organization appears to be headed in the right direction. Some may even say that it’s only a matter of time before the Maple Leafs return to glory.

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